26 February 2012

Game On 2.0

Game On 2.0
Kinokino, Sandnes
25.2.-9.6.12
An exhibition about the computer games' history,culture and future

From the first computer game to the wild variety of the present games. With 125 games to play, here is more than enough to your nostalgia or curiosity. Even the old cinema hall is filled with arcade games. I had a lot of fun playing the Commodore 64 games from my childhood, and it was a thrill to see the weird games, like being an ordinary Japanese train driver, or games without any plot or purpose.

This is a feast of design and creativity, but is it art? Well, some games may have artistic qualities, and some art may be based on games. But is computer games an art form itself, or is it mainly entertainment? I guess game freaks would say "of course it is art", as a football enthusiast could say "football is culture". But what does the art section say? This will be a topic for debate in the exhibition program, and I am curious about the outcome of that.

Again Kinokino is taking chances in choosing exhibitions. They risk being labelled as "too commercial" or being accused for thinning out the definition of art. But at the same time they really are broadening the definition of art, they will probably set a visit record and get visits from people that never set their feet in an art gallery before. Kinokino is being brave, serious and creative, and I just love them for that.

Game On 2.0

Game On 2.0

Game On 2.0

Game On 2.0

Game On 2.0