Zaha Hadid Architects has opened a virtual gallery at Art Basel Miami which is held between December 2 - 4, 2021 in Miami. ZHA's virtual gallery, titled NFTism, explores architecture and social interaction in the metaverse.

The virtual gallery, including spatial designs by Zaha Hadid Architects, focus on user-experience, social interaction and dramaturgical composition, this virtual architecture is powered by performance aligned, field-tested parametric design technologies. 

The NFTism virtual gallery compositions are brought together with ZHA’s designs with MMO (massively multiplayer online game) and interaction technological services bringing novel, use-enhancing experiences to a broad online audience. 

Image courtesy of ZHA

The virtual gallery features, among other items, designs previously commissioned by Kenny Schachter, namely the ‘Z-boat’, the ‘Z-Car One’, a sculptural bench-table ‘Belu’ and a stool ‘Orchis’. These designs are collaborations between Zaha Hadid Architects and Zaha Hadid Design.

Image courtesy of ZHA

Incorporating their technologies within the virtual spaces designed by ZHA, JOURNEE has developed a Software as a Service (SaaS) built on proprietary, performance optimized MMO technology integrated with audio-video interaction capabilities along with network and cloud-hosting services.

Image courtesy of ZHA

"Cyberspaces are virtual environments that enable human-to-human communication via computer networks," said Zaha Hadid Architects. 

"Current photo-real, 3D and massively multiplayer online (MMO) video-game creation technologies, combined with high-speed network and cloud technologies, allow cyberspaces to be 3-dimensional, interaction-rich, socially and sensorially engaging, as well as accessible through a variety of devices using desktop browsers, mobile apps and smart TVs. "

Image courtesy of ZHA

Cyberspaces are part of integral spatial-web technologies underpinning the metaverse – an online environment coupling spatial and interaction experiences of cyberspaces with supporting social, community forming and economic infrastructure. 

Especially, during the pandemic, the metaverse supports new forms of cultural production and associated experience such as digital art and virtual art museums.

Image courtesy of ZHA

Galerie Nagel Draxler collaborated with media artist Kenny Schachter to curate their initial exhibition dedicated to artists working with blockchain technologies and NFTs: 'Breadcrumbs: Art in the Age of NFTism'. 

Their subsequent ‘Crypto-Kiosk’ collaboration piloted the concept at Art Basel 2021. Now at Art Basel Miami Beach, the concept is taken a step further with an LED wall presenting an interactive gallery space located in the metaverse.

Image courtesy of Journee

Image courtesy of Journee

Image courtesy of Journee

Image courtesy of Journee

Image courtesy of Journee

Image courtesy of Journee

Image courtesy of Journee

Image courtesy of Journee

Image courtesy of Journee

Image courtesy of Journee

Top image courtesy of ZHA. 

> via ZHA