Elsewhere
This mossy comforting blackscape was a vision I saw every time I closed my eyes.
A Sanctuary
in the Dark.
The concept for "Elsewhere" was born from a deeply personal experience. While healing in the hospital last year, artist Karina Sharif found solace not in light, but in a mental image of a safe, textured darkness.
She approached SolidRender with a challenge: To take this internal sanctuary and translate it into a 360° VR landscape for her exhibition at Lyle Gallery. It needed to feel organic, tactile, and above all comforting.
Crafting the
Blackscape.
To achieve the "comforting" quality Karina described, we couldn't just use empty black space. We had to texture the void. We utilized Unreal Engine to build a reactive ecosystem.
- + Tactile Moss: We simulated high-fidelity vegetation that users could almost "feel" with their eyes.
- + The Oculus Experience: Optimized for VR headsets, allowing gallery visitors to physically step into Karina's healing vision.
- + Guided by Light: A subtle torch mechanic represented the artist's gaze, cutting through the darkness to reveal the safety within.
Karina Sharif
Based in New York, Karina Sharif is celebrated for her delicate work with paper—exploring texture, fragility, and shadow. Her physical sculptures have graced galleries across the city, known for their tactile intimacy.
"Elsewhere" marks her first departure from the physical world. The project was conceived during a prolonged hospital stay, where Karina used visualization as a tool for pain management. She would close her eyes and picture a "mossy, comforting blackscape."
Partnering with SolidRender, she brought this internal sanctuary to Lyle Gallery, inviting the public to step inside her healing process through the medium of Virtual Reality.
Step Inside the Vision
Experience the atmosphere. We developed a custom environment allowing the artist to transport collectors into her mindscape instantly.
The Texture of Darkness