CO/CREATE
Residency + Immersive Exhibition
CO/CREATE set out to reimagine the artist residency as a site for collaboration, experimentation, and connection—embedded within the working culture of a digital art studio. Designed for local artists working across sound, VR, and interdisciplinary media, the program brought together a diverse cohort whose practices unfolded in shared space—blending independent inquiry with collective momentum. Over five months, this proximity sparked new dialogues, unexpected connections, and hybrid approaches that reflect the evolving nature of contemporary digital creation.
As we look back on this edition of CO/CREATE, we invite you to step inside the ideas, collaborations, and immersive experiences that took shape—offering a glimpse into a residency model grounded in process, shared tools, and the possibilities of emerging media.
ARTISTS
Alice Aterman — Laura Carabello — Eyez — Fili 周 Gibbons — Hailey Guzik — Malik McKoy — Alfred Muszynski — Noah Sherrin — Della Orrey — Nalobi Zrobe
With this edition of the residency, Post-Reality served as the thematic catalyst, challenging artists to delve into the evolving nature of perception, existence, and social constructs in our digital age. With this guiding thematic being intentionally open, the group of artists’ engaged in ways that span from political and social commentary to the abstract, including both contemplative and playful reflections. This collective exploration led to the realization of six immersive projects that interweave the unique perspectives on, and responses to the notion of Post-Reality. Traversing a wide range of themes from posthumanism and dystopian futures to speculative ecologies, dream worlds, and reflections on the creative industries, the works engage with the creative possibilities of virtual reality, spanning cinematic, exploratory, generative, meditative, and hyper-stimulating immersive experiences.
With CO/CREATE, World Creation Studio sets out to offer a distinct format of artist residency by aligning it with the vibrant dynamics observed within our studio community. In this unique ecosystem, a diverse, multidisciplinary group of artists share both a common space and a common goal where they work both independently and collaboratively- a format that has nurtured an environment where ideas, techniques, and inspirations seamlessly intertwine, and continues to give rise to innovative projects and initiatives drawing on our collective expertise and experiences.
Throughout the residency artists exchanged ideas and input, shared their thinking and approaches at each stage of collaboration. A series of workshops covering different aspects of 3D and sound for virtual reality act as a shared formation for the immersive experiences created.
CO/CREATE serves as an entry point for many of the participating artists into the realm of virtual reality and spatialized sound, offering a platform for both experimentation and collaboration, using the medium to question and reflect on the nature of the ways present and near future digital technologies influence how we perceive, experience and contemplate reality.
By fostering an environment where artistic exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration thrive, World Creation Studio supports the development of innovative digital art practices. The six immersive projects included in this exhibition reflect the diverse creative approaches and conceptual explorations that emerged from this collaborative process. Each project offers a unique lens through which to engage with the central theme of Post-Reality, inviting viewers to experience and reflect on the evolving intersections between technology, identity, and perception.
World Creation Studio acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des arts de Montréal and the SAT.
