Raidel, Ella, Rutzendorfer, Marlene, Seide, Benjamin. Performing Cultural Heritage: Advancing urban exploration through audio-visual-immersive journeys on public transport and cinematic virtual reality.P/References of Design, Cumulus Conference Proceedings Budapest 2024, https://doi.org/10.63442/IZUP8898, ISBN Volume 1: 978-952-7549-02-5 (PDF), pp.1273-1285
This paper explores the concept of ‘Living Heritage / Performative Cultural Heritage,’ an innovative series of audio-visual-immersive experiences designed to transcend conventional temporal and spatial boundaries. These experiences, accessible through curated apps and cinematic virtual reality (cine-vr), emerge as multifaceted tools that intertwine research, artistic practice, education, and cultural heritage preservation. The initiatives aim to foster awareness, document sites, protect the environment, and celebrate cultural diversity through critical spatial practices. Inspired by the rich traditions of the Situationist International, methods of urban practice adopt a sensory, poetic, and critical stance to explore urban spaces, stimulating curiosity and offering an alternative approach to experiencing the city.
The paper positions these projects within this theoretical framework, underscoring the imperative to deconstruct and reinterpret the city as a linguistic syntax. Furthermore, the initiatives leverage cutting-edge technologies such as VR/AR/XR, exemplifying how immersive experiences can enrich daily routines. Focused on public transport, particularly buses and trains, as narrative protagonists, these initiatives carry histories and stories across historically significant sites.
The paper concludes by presenting two work-in-progress art-based research projects. Beyond their immediate impact, these projects endure within designated transport systems, remaining accessible to multiple users over time. The paper underscores the environmental implications, portraying the projects as instruments for promoting the knowledge of the effects of Climate Change, aligning with the vision of the United Nations’ SDG, both in social and ecological dimensions. In conclusion, ‘Performing Cultural Heritage’ advocates for new formats in audio-visual-immersive experiences in public transport and cinematic virtual reality, presenting a compelling case for enriching urban exploration, cultural appreciation, and sustainable urban development, considering human and non-human actors and agency.
Acknowledgements: This research is supported by the Ministry of Education, Singapore, Tier 2, ID: T2EP40123-0011.
Regional Express is a project by Ella Raidel, Petra Ardai, and Marlene Rutzendorfer for the European Capital of Culture Bad Ischl Salzkammergut 2024.