The metaverse, as we know it, is dead—or so proclaims the theme of the forthcoming Metaverse Art Week 2023, scheduled to occur in the virtual social world of Decentraland from 19 to 23 July. This year’s edition, curated and produced by the art collective Vueltta, promises a week-long, no-holds-barred art extravaganza that celebrates the death and rebirth of the metaverse.
Decentraland, a platform that enables users to create, experience, and monetize content and applications, has been at the vanguard of the metaverse evolution since its inception in 2020. This year, it is opening its virtual doors to independent artists and creators who have been quietly shaping the “real” metaverse.
The event’s main attraction, MESH, an art fair for 3D, metaverse, and VR creators, will showcase forty immersive new works. Celebrated artists such as Hannes Hummel, Mattia Cuttini, Rebecca Rose, Leander Herzog, and Michelle Brown are among the leading participants.
Vueltta artists and collaborators in the MESH installation by Fractilians. Image: Decentraland
Visitors to the Metaverse Art Week will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in authentic metaverse culture. Installations by thriving underground virtual creative communities, such as VERTEX by GucciToe x Tangpoko, HERE & NOW by Michael Beets, and RARE PEPE culture by the DecentraPEPE Shrine, will be on display. For newcomers, guided tours hosted by The WIP Meetup, a long-standing cult gathering by Niftytime and Rizzle, will provide an insightful introduction.
Recognizing the emergence of metaverse parties as a unique art form, Vueltta has collaborated with established metaverse party organizers to host daily happenings throughout the week. These parties, which blend elements of 1970s New York, 1990s rave culture, and the futuristic aesthetics of Blade Runner, are set to push the boundaries of artistic exploration and innovation.
As Decentraland opens its virtual doors once again, Metaverse Art Week promises to captivate, inspire, and ignite conversations about the future of creativity within virtual environments. The event serves as a testament to the boundless creativity and imagination of the artists and visionaries driving the evolution of the metaverse.
