While the argument over video games as art rages on, there can be no denying that games have influenced art, as evidenced by the WoW: Emergent Media Phenomenon at the Laguna Art Museum in California.
The WoW: Emergent Media Phenomenon exhibit, which runs from now until October 4th at the Laguna Art Museum in Laguna Beach, California, explores different forms of cultural production (read: art) that have been influenced by video games in general, with a strong focus on World of Warcraft. The exhibit uses work by Blizzard artists Chris Metzen, Sam Didier, Chris Robinson, Justin Thavirat, and Roman Kenney, along with work from nineteen other artists from around the globe, exploring themes of desire, the collapse of fantasy, medievalism, creative critiques, and public intervention.
It all sounds rather deep, but that's the world of art for you. Throughout the exhibition, various artists will be lecturing and performing, integrating the World of Warcraft into their work. Visitors will have a chance to actively participate in collaborative art, or simply listen to someone explore the fantasy religious themes in the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch to the imagery found in World of Warcraft.
It actually sounds fascinating. Perhaps I will get a chance to make it out there during this year's trip to BlizzCon.
WoW: Emergent Media Phenomenon [Laguna Art Museum - Thanks Steven]