Spring 2026 - SHORTLISTED

Echo of Seto Islands

Many children are excluded from experiencing art festivals due to distance, illness, or mobility constraints. Echo of Seto Islands addresses this gap by reimagining how cultural experiences can be accessed and shared beyond physical presence. Inspired by Setouchi Triennale in Japan, the project translates the cultural and emotional landscape of Oshima Island into an interactive virtual environment designed for children aged 7–12. Drawing from Oshima Island — historically known as a site of enforced isolation — the work reinterprets themes of memory, stigma, and marginalisation through symbolic interaction. Rather than replicating existing artworks, the experience focuses on exploration as a form of engagement, allowing users to encounter cultural narratives through movement, discovery, and play. Within the virtual world, users navigate a stylised island, interact with characters, and complete metaphor-based tasks such as collecting fragmented maps or nurturing environments. These interactions function as narrative devices, enabling children to engage with complex histories in an age-appropriate and emotionally safe way. The project is grounded in user-centred design principles, emphasising accessibility, intuitive interaction, and emotional safety. It has been presented in an exhibition setting, where audience engagement provided insight into how immersive environments can support cultural learning and participation. Echo of Seto Islands proposes a future in which art festivals are no longer defined by location but can exist as accessible, explorable systems of cultural participation. By shifting from site-based events to immersive experiences, the project questions how cultural access might evolve when physical presence is no longer a requirement. The project was selected as a finalist in the 2025 VRINN Awards (Hamar UNESCO City of Media Arts category).