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Janne Schimmel (1993) takes apart old game consoles both physically and digitally, repurposing them to create new games. He is fascinated by video game culture, with homebrew communities that develop incredible games, while games in the commercial industry are often dominated by war rhetoric and aggressive actions. Why do tech companies associate technology with toughness, speed, and strength? According to the artist, this overlooks a whole world of untold stories.
In response to the first-person shooter genre, in which players see the world through the sight of a weapon, Schimmel presents a new genre with his game First Person Hugger (2024) at Prospects. A special hug button on the console allows players to approach the world through open arms and interact with other characters, trees, or objects by means of hugging. Usually, game controller buttons are used for firing weapons or other aggressive actions. By adding a hug button, the artist seeks to challenge this conventional interactive programming language.
The connection between the physical and digital world is also a recurring theme in the sculptures Schimmel designs alongside his games. For instance, the moulds for the cast aluminium sculpture Between Modder and Mud (2024) were 3D-printed, after which the artist re-scanned the result to design new components. This approach leads to unique, skeleton-like constructions in sharp contrast with the smooth casing of a standard game console. By responding to these conventions, Schimmel uncovers the frameworks that shape how we, as a society, interact with technology.
Text: Esmee Postma
Translated from Dutch by Marie Louise Schoondergang (The Art of Translation)