Shezad Dawood: Art Takes A Byte Of VR
Take a journey into the Shezad Dawood’s imagination and be the protagonist in his story.
Browns East is a creative hub that frequently houses thought-provoking experiences and installations in amongst an ever-changing retail space. The most recent installation to discover is the multi-sensory VR experience titled ‘Kalimpong’ from visionary genius, Shezad Dawood.
Located in The Immersive Room on the first floor, this interactive piece of art takes the participant on an existential journey through the West Bengal town. As you enter the room and put on the headset, you are instantly transported into a world of Buddhist enlightenment where you can choose to follow the guide or take control of your story and observe your own path.
The London born artist is known for working across various disciplines, including film, painting, sculpture and more recently, virtual reality. In a world where imagery has become ambiguous with the rise of social media, Dawood is an artist of a new generation, experimenting with visuals and bringing his art forms into the modern age. His work often interweaves history, reality and symbolism which is evident in the ‘Kalimpong’ experience. Merging the traditional with the technological, Dawood includes pieces of his own contemporary artwork against the backdrop of a spiritual town and an ever-looming presence of a mythical creature.
Tap into a new level of consciousness and explore a blend of fact and fiction as you discover a world where digital media and animation become a series of paintings, textiles and sculpture.
We don’t want to give too much away as you must experience for yourself.
Words by Alexandra Oliver