Face it, the metaverse adores a good controversy.  Regardless of how many signs you’ll see dotted about a sim shouting ‘No Drama’ or ‘Drama Free Zone’ there’s nothing the grid likes better than a bit of a kerfuffle. And boy is there some kerfuffling going on at the moment about an exhibit by Jenn Villota…

 This is a pic of me stood outside the gallery, because as will become very swiftly obvious if you pay a visit, the contents are unbelievably controversial.  I couldn’t possibly print any of the images here, because they’d probably make you very uncomfortable indeed.  Having said that, these works deal with themes that art has featured over thousands of years; sex, death and conflict.  Jenn chooses to portay these subjects as viscerally and blatantly as possible, using photographs taken in Second Life and enhanced using some sort of toolset that I have no comprehension of.  The result is a juxtaposition of beautifully rendered photographs that feature pornographic, challenging and downright nasty images.  I wandered around the exhibit with my virtual and real life gobs agape in wonder at what I was seeing…If you decide to take a visit be warned, these pictures aren’t for the faint-hearted and there was even  a couple that made me go ‘Eww!’ 

That said, the work is astonishing.  Love it or loathe it, this is art that will cause shockwaves in Second Life but for all the right reasons.  I’m glad that Second Life can be used by artists to create such startling work, and although I can’t say that Jenn’s creations feature themes that resonate with me, I recognise that this is the way that she chooses to express herself as an artist and more power to her for doing so, especially because she created her work within the confines of our wonderful metaverse.  Whilst I was there I bumped into Jenn and she was gracious and really lovely to chat to..you may find that a surprise when you see some of the twisted imagery on display..

Here’s the Second Life Herald article that led me to visit the gallery, and click here for an SLURL.  Be warned, it’s not for the faint hearted, but i strongly suggest that you visit.  Why? Because art creates opinions, creates debate, and most importantly of all it makes us consider what we are witnessing in real life that has lead the artist to develop such a creation,  and the wider implications of it.  It’s powerful, and thought-provoking stuff indeed.