Evolution
Layered Plywood, Soil, Ceramics and Playfoam. Coop-project with Ukrainian artist Beata Korn (Ceramics and Playfoam), 2022
Asistance for augmented reality version: Prof. Rolf Kruse, FH Erfurt | Angewandte Informatik
In 2020, a collaborative exhibition-project between artists of Ushgorod and Darmstadt was cancelled due to Corona. So Volkmar Hoppe together with his art-partner Beata Korn decided to use virtual and augmented reality to bring their artwork to live. The basic concept for the sculptures settles on two main foundations: tradition and play.
For Beata Korn this is resembled in two identical shapes. One is made from ceramics as a traditional technique, the other is made from playfoam, which could be reshaped any time.The shape reminds on a seed or an embryo in its early stage. Both are arranged on a pile of earth where it is left to germinate and grow.
Volkmar Hoppe used a traditional, ukrainian crossstitch pattern as a basis. From there he digitally created a random growth, which was also inspired by Beata‘s ceramic meadows. This pattern works as a frame around Beata‘s sculpture. In the corners he placed 4 icons: peace, radioactivity, ruble, and democracy. The whole sculpture is lasercut plywood and dyed black. The top is gradually colored. Political challenges for the Ukraine are based on Russian influences and a struggle for (black) coal, which seems outdated in times of climate change. The augmented reality application creates Beata‘s virtual sculpture inside of Volkmar‘s object in the Atelierhaus. The complete digital sculpture could also be visited in a virtual Atelierhaus.
As the war made it impossible to get Beata Korn’s sculptures and the Ukrainian soil out of the country, it was decided to create her part of the artwork via augmented reality. For a later exhibition it was smuggled out of the country.