At a time when our society, and the world, is overwhelmed with the news, anxiety and fear of the unknown regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, experimental Canadian artist, Mappe Of, offers us a mental respite from the chaos. Tom Meikle (aka Mappe Of) releases a full album virtual reality visual experience for his conceptual 2019 collection, The Isle of Ailynn. The Isle Of Ailynn Visual Experience is an innovative technical achievement that brings to life the fictional world that came from the mind of Mappe Of for the acclaimed album.
An online viewing party, powered by StreamYard, for the virtual reality experience has been confirmed for April 8 at 5pm EST featuring a Q&A with Mappe Of and visual co-creators Edward Platero and Kristyn Watterworth. Join the event via Facebook Live & Youtube Live HERE. Platero is working to develop the audio continuum through additional software. You can view the full non-VR version of the film HERE.
To create The Isle Of Ailynn Visual Experience, Meikle teamed up with EXAR Studios, Platero Visual and Kryart Studio, specifically painter Kristyn Watterworth and virtual reality director and experience-creator, Edward Platero. Together they brought Meikle’s
ambitious conceptual opus to life by hand-painting the scenes using a Google Tilt Brush. This project has pushed the Tilt Brush technology/software further than any other artist has, and beyond the limits of what it was originally designed to do. This mesmerizing ocular journey only enhances what was already an immersive musical experience upon the release of The Isle Of Ailynn last year.
Watch the trailer for “Estuary II”
“The most important element is connection,” says Meikle. “Working on this VR project brought me to an interesting place philosophically, as I’ve always been a proponent of going outside and enjoying the earth (despite my often reclusive choice of career), but this encourages quite the opposite. VR as a technology will be challenged, I’m sure. It’s just starting to make its way into homes, and I’m curious to see how that will play out. It might feel a little dystopian, Black Mirror-esque, but there is serious potential in it for genuine experience.”
The Isle of Ailynn (Paper Bag Records) features nine melody rich songs with fictional narratives that draws parallels to our modern world. As a whole, they possess a unity through sonic identity and structure that draw from classical, electronic, progressive and rock influences.
Stream or Purchase the album The Isle of Ailynn HERE
For press information about Mappe Of, please contact Jim Flammia jim@alleyesmedia.com or Taylor Dickens taylor@alleyesmedia.com
at All Eyes Media (615) 227-2770