EV assistant professor, Daria Tsoupikova presented Aesthetics as a Medium at the ISEA 2008, The International Symposium on Electronic Art held at the Singapore Management University, Singapore between July 25th and August 3rd 2008.

Since its inception in 1988, ISEA has been known as the world’s premier media arts event for the critical discussion, and a showcase of creative productions applying new technologies in interactive and digital media. Held biannually in various cities throughout the world, this symposium consists of three aspects of peer reviewed conference, internationally juried exhibition and various in-conjunction and partner events. ISEA brings together artists, theorists, historians, curators and researchers of media arts from around the world to jointly explore the most urgent and exciting questions in the field.

Aesthetics as a Medium presents how the aesthetics of a networked virtual environment can be orchestrated to control the communicative power of a project, maximize sense of immersion and ultimately “presence” in the virtual world. It explores the relationship between traditional and digital aesthetics based on the virtual reality art project Rutopia 2, which is inspired by Russian folk arts and crafts (e.g wood sculptures, toys and the decorative painting styles of Palekh, Khokhloma, and Dymkovo.) The visuals are translated into digital forms through generalized outlines, crisp emphasized details, bright colors and ornamental patterns. Rutopia 2 these aesthetic principles to investigate how visual style can affect intuitive navigation, perception, and emotional experience of the user in virtual reality.

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