Magic Circles

Not so long ago, the metaverse was hailed as the future of the internet — a lush, immersive space that promised to transform digital interactions. In the aftermath of the pandemic, it seemed like an appealing vision. However, as technology struggled to meet expectations and financial capital shifted toward artificial intelligence, the metaverse fell short, leaving behind a trail of unmet promises and significant losses for companies like Meta. For now, the idea of transcendence through mixed reality seems to have been put on hold.

Nonetheless, virtual worlds remain active spaces for creativity, exploration, and community building. From game environments that offer role-playing opportunities to open-ended platforms fostering loyal niche communities, these spaces continue to evolve. Virtual worlds provide tools for expression, creativity, and even commerce, while reflecting the human drive to imagine and connect.

The Magic Circles Laboratory sought to explore these possibilities, creating a space for collaborative discussions, tours, and experiments. The program brought together Jan Berger, Hortense Boulais-Ifrène, Debbie Ding, and DC Spensley. Participants got a monetary stipend and, over the course of eight weeks, shared projects at various stages of development, using the laboratory as an opportunity to exchange ideas and reflect on the unique affordances and limitations of virtual environments such as Second Life, Roblox, and VRChat. By facilitating these activities, Magic Circles highlighted the enduring cultural and creative relevance of virtual worlds, offering insights into their potential as tools for storytelling, artistic expression, social connection, and cultural production.

The video is a one-minute excerpt from the studio visit where participants guided a virtual tour and shared their works.

The experimental documentary featuring interview footage, conducted within virtual worlds and directed and edited by Gabriel Menotti, will be released this year. Below, you can find a representative image from each artist's interview.

Interview with DC Spensley, filmed in Second Life.

Interview with Jan Berger, filmed in Roblox.

Interview with Debbie Ding, filmed in VRChat.

Interview with Hortense Boulais-Ifrène, filmed in Second Life.

The Magic Circles Lab is directed by Dr. Gabriel Menotti and produced by Dr. Sojung Bahng as part of the MetaMetaverse SSHRC Insight Development program, with design and production assistance provided by Sam Sunwoo.