Downlove
(Maastricht / Hoek Helmstraat / Dominicanerplein)
In the virtual world of Downlove (2007) by Euripides Laskaridis (Greece, 1975) where emotions are forgotten, two Avatars fail to fall in love. Their sweaters however come to life, with unexpected results. The dancers give the impression very convincingly that they are computer-animated dolls. Their facial expression and the movements of the characters are reduced to the level where game developers can mimic human interaction as well as possible. The geometric and imaginative love dance by the two ‘virtual’ flesh and blood characters refers to the fact that we, real people, have grown used to a very specific body language and emotions deriving from computer games and other virtual worlds. Downlove was also made in a 3D version.