By Raquel Threat
What does Greek mythology look like in the metaverse? Well, decentraland can give you a head start. Starting on March 8th, multimedia feminist artist Narine Arakelian is bringing her newest exhibit to the virtual world. “Metamorphosis: Narine Arakelian’s Journey from Myth to Metaverse” will be available for all users on the decentraland marketplace.
Narine Arakelian, a boundary-pushing Armenian artist, is breaking away from the comforts of her previous works and forging a new creative path into virtual art. Virtual art has become a growing platform for artists worldwide to expand their artistic outputs. Platforms like Decentraland are creating a new landscape for artists to capture the power of technology with their own hands and present their art in the form of creative avatars and colorful landscapes. Metamorphosis will mark the first land-art presentation in Decentraland and tell the ancient story of Aphroditie’s Stone through the eyes of Narine herself.
Arakelian has made a name for herself by consistently breaking the status quo and pulling her audience to take on the various questions of life and society. She is known for presenting her works through multiple media formats, including sculptures, video art, installations, performance art, and paintings. She studied at the State Surikov Institute in Moscow and later completed an internship at the Digital Arts Department at the Los Angeles Academy of Art. Since then, Arakelian’s work has been featured worldwide, including Italy, Armenia, Miami, and more. She is based in Venice and Los Angeles and has a deep catalog that expands across various academic and social disciplines. Arakelian regularly engages with themes of feminism, gender identity, and nature. She uses her art to provoke her audience’s thoughts beyond their current realities and invites everyone to participate in discovering their own identities.
Metamorphosis was birthed directly from the legend of Aphrodite herself. The stone represents the divine femininity of both women and nature. Her exhibit is a representation of the symbiosis that exists between these two realms and how we can interact with the natural world amidst a growing technologically advanced society. Metamorphosis has become our reality. Through this virtual exhibit, Arakelian hopes to inspire and transform our ideas about the boundaries that exist between AI, nature, and society. It is a place of self-discovery and interaction where virtual reality has come to present the story of metamorphosis directly with the audience in front of it. Narine’s breakthrough into this dynamic space will continue to inspire new creative pathways into virtual art.
Narine Arakelian’s Journey from Myth to Metaverse” in Decentraland is a groundbreaking exhibition that ingeniously merges ancient mythology with modern digital innovation. This immersive experience, set against the captivating Bay of Aphrodite, delves deep into Greek and Cypriot mythology, offering a unique blend of nature, art, and technology. At the core of the exhibition is a remarkable performance filmed at the Stone of Aphrodite, symbolizing the seamless integration of the past with the present, where Arakelian herself swims among these mythologically significant stones. This act is a vivid depiction of time’s fluidity and the transformative power of art, inviting viewers to explore the metaverse—a limitless virtual space where reality is reimagined and reborn.
Arakelian, through her exhibition, encourages a profound dialogue on the interplay between myth, technology, and the transformative impact of art. By turning the legendary stones associated with Aphrodite into a dynamic canvas, she blurs the boundaries between the physical and digital realms. The exhibition is a celebration of the symbiosis between myth and modernity, providing a compelling commentary on social issues, gender identity, and the exploration of feminine archetypes. This blend of performance art, sculpture, and environmental installations underscores Arakelian’s advocacy for social justice and gender equality, presenting a powerful narrative on the evolution of consciousness in the modern world
“Metamorphosis of Aphrodite’s Stones” not only marks a significant milestone in Arakelian’s artistic journey but also in the evolution of art within the virtual world. It stands as a beacon of innovation in the digital art space, offering an accessible platform for global participation, transcending geographical boundaries. This exhibition is a testament to the limitless possibilities of creative expression in the metaverse, inviting audiences worldwide to engage with art in new and meaningful ways. Arakelian’s work is a pioneering example of how virtual worlds like Decentraland can serve as vibrant stages for exploring the interconnections between technology, nature, and human experience
Published by: Holy Minoza
