…makes an installation that merges the conscience of the physical and virtual self into one.

During this trajectory, Stijn will research the loss of physicality in digital worlds. He’s been fascinated by this for a long time, which was the result of a different Cross-TIC trajectory that he did about theater in VR. This side of physicality continues to become more vague in a world full with digital identities, and those digital identities keep getting more physical. This suddenly results in the problem of listening to two bodies. His goal is to merge the physical and digital body in an installation that connects virtual qualities with physical stimuli.

“My goal is to imitate the feeling of “body denial” (the loss of self-image of the physical body) in a short time, after which the visitor will think more about which body they actually identify with.”

About Stijn

Stijn is a multimedia artist who feels at home in theater. Fascinated by the dialogue between the physical and digital, he uses his background in theater and his passion for technology to create a total synergy. Since the COVID-period, he’s started filming his performances because they couldn’t be played live.

“I gradually became more engaged in those performances. This resulted in my experimenting with my video and installation knowledge to apply to the scenography of a performance. I’ve been able to learn a lot about the integration of different techniques in a theater setting.”

Earlier trajectories

Theater in VR / VR in Theater

Together with Alexander Zanen, Stijn researches a new form of theater in which the public is put into a virtual world with the actors. Stijn wants to make the medium of virtual reality accessible for a theater setting, in which the audience can participate in an interactive performance. But which senses do you appeal to? And how do you engage an audience in VR?

I AM, I AM NOT

Stijn produced the performance I AM, I AM NOT for Theater on Tour during his second trajectory within Cross-TIC together with Booi Kluiving.

In I AM, I AM NOT, Narcissus faces an AI. In that meeting, Narcissus questions his own existence. He is trying to connect with and be seen by the AI. And to even love these. But in his attempts to get closer, Narcissus seems to disturb his own reflection each time, and so does his only recognition of existence. Frustrated by his puny efforts, Narcissus slowly lapses into manic episodes and branches off further.

This production was created with support from Theater Sonnevanck and was developed for Theater on Tour.

Theater in VR / VR in Theater