Info

The project is a combination of a computer game and a Room installation, created to explore the themes of loneliness, alienation, and the specificity of the incel environment. The work is an immersive experience in which the viewer is immersed in both a virtual world and a physical space reflecting the realities of the lives of those who identify as incels.

The title term incel is an acronym for involuntary celibacy. People who identify as incels are mostly men who experience difficulty in establishing romantic or sexual relationships, despite strong desires in this regard.

Both the game and the installation are based on authentic materials and content obtained from incel portals, reflecting the subjective narratives of members of this community. The computer game is based on the search for interaction with objects in a virtual incel room, allowing one to learn about the community, authentic stories, or simulations of daily activities. Based on the gamer’s choices, the type of incel assigned to them is determined.

The Room allows the physical discovery of side plots and entries hidden inside the installation, taking the immersiveness of the gameplay to the level of a real experience. The project does not aim to downplay or justify the extreme views with which this environment is associated but to honestly present the problem and search for its origins.

The combination of virtual gameplay and physical installation allows for an in-depth analysis of the phenomenon, an exploration of social mechanisms, and an empathetic understanding of the daily struggles of those who experience loneliness and alienation. Together, the works create a space where the boundary between the virtual world and reality becomes fluid.

Piotr Kusiak – I am fascinated by exploring and defining the boundary between the virtual and real worlds – searching for it, shifting it, and analyzing it to understand better where it is and how it affects the human experience. I often combine digital and material elements to create interactive installations that offer unique experiences. I am interested in social themes and issues related to the digital world. I believe that transferring social issues to virtual reality opens up new perspectives for analysis and interaction and shows the complexity of relationships between the real and the virtual. This combination creates unlimited opportunities for artistic experimentation and creative exploration, which constantly inspires me to continue my work.