MuseoMag: MuseoMag 2015_01

MuseoMag 2015_01

Metadata

Periodical

Title:: MuseoMag

Periodical volume

Title:: MuseoMag 2015_01

Article

Title:: Into the tower of power: Second life - Virtual visit of Fort Thüngen

22 museomag 01 ‘ 2015 Second Life is not a game, Pit hastens to underline in the course of our conversation. There are no missions to complete, no points to collect. Instead – and this is what Pit loves about it – it is about creating a story yourself and putting yourself in the shoes of someone who lived in the nineteenth century. His representation of the fortress, uniforms and weapons are well-re- searched. Take a close look at the hats the soldiers are wearing and try to find the real thing during your mu- seum visit! And unlike most computer games, it does not feature a map to check where you are, ‘because you wouldn’t have that in real life either. We tried to keep it as realistic as possible.’ My question about when this story is set is quickly answered. The year is 1867. Not 1866, not 1868. And he explains why: ‘It’s just before the demolition of the fortress. It’s an intermediate phase.’ Following the mu- seum’s overall aim, it shows how Luxembourg slowly developed a national identity, with its own culture and its own army. ‘And’, he adds, ‘in 1867, it wasn’t razed yet and everything was still there. But it was also the final phase of the fortress. It was never as beautiful as in 1867, neither before nor after.’ Drop in on Sunday afternoons for open workshops. Check the Facebook page Fort Thüngen Virtuel to keep up to date! The event is ideal for anyone from 14 years onwards, but also bookable for Cycle 4 upwards. Liz Louis Next free workshops (from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.) with Pit Vinandy on Sunday the 4th and 11th of January, the 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd of February, as on the 22nd of March 2015. © éric chenal Dusty objects in dark display cases and you can only stand in front of it all quietly. That is the sort of thing Musée Dräi Eechelen has declared war on! Let artist Pit Vinandy take you back to 1867, just before the demo- lition of Luxembourg’s fortress, during his interactive virtual visit of the Fort Thüngen. When I meet Pit at Musée Dräi Eechelen, he leads me through a glass door opposite the reception, up a winding staircase and to a small, round tower. It con- tains 12 computers, and it sounds like Pit is using a mi- crophone – he later tells me that the acoustics of the round room create a sort of instant surround sound. This allows you to dive entirely into the past for a while, because the programme includes not just a reconstruc- tion of the fortress and characters in accurate historical dress, but also sounds of birds and gunshots! AVATARS - THE PUPPETS OF THE 21ST CENTURY After a short introduction to Second Life, you will take over the role of one of 11 characters. Except for a fe- male nurse, they are all male soldiers and part of the corps de chasseurs luxembourgeois, the Luxembourg army at the time. At the start, you get an information sheet telling you what your name, military experience and friendships are, and what to do. Once you’ve learnt how to shoot, you’re free to make your avatar do what- ever you want – it’s what Pit calls ‘the ultimate pup- pet play’. You can have a stroll through the castle, chat to your fellow soldiers in the castle, ride your horse, fight duels to impress the nurse… the story is yours to create! If you have enough time, it is possible to build a character from scratch – you can come back to the computer room at Musée Dräi Eechelen any time, or you can access your avatar from any PC or Android device in the world. INTO THE TOWER OF POWER SECOND LIFE - VIRTUAL VISIT OF FORT THÜNGEN “Second Life” is a free workshop for adults and teenagers: just climb the stairs of the tower at the entry of the M3E and take a virtual journey into the past.

Access restriction

Copyright

fullscreen: MuseoMag 2015_01

Periodical

Periodical volume

Article

Table of contents