Virtual reality is a technique of interfacing which connects diverse bodies, objects and spaces, thereby mediating between different art forms and modes of experience. This feature also calls for a methodological interfacing of different disciplinary perspectives. The contributors to this volume examine how VR is employed in contemporary art with regard to its technical potential, its aesthetic qualities, and the imaginations it evokes. They highlight the use of VR as a "world within a world," ranging from encapsulated artificial environments to transitions into familiar lifeworlds. By bringing together theoretical perspectives from art history, media and game studies, this volume provides crucial analysis of selected artworks and expands the critical engagement with a contemporary art form and media practice.
