There's something uniquely captivating about stepping into an art gallery or museum. That hush, the careful lighting, the feeling of ideas unfolding around you – it's an experience I cherish whenever I visit these special places. What’s truly fascinating is how this very essence has been beautifully, and often powerfully, recreated within videogames.
You’re probably familiar with the trope: a dilapidated museum in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a testament to a world lost and you'd be right as these dystopian galleries are incredibly common. They serve as poignant relics of a lost past, silent witnesses to what humanity once was before everything crumbled. They're often brimming with lore, their exhibits subtly weaving narratives of bygone eras, explaining the very devastation we are navigating. The preserved beauty within these crumbling walls provides a stark, almost heartbreaking, contrast to the chaos outside, forcing us to reflect on the nature of destruction and the enduring power of creation.
This iconic scene in The Last of Us II is a brilliant case in point.
But what's truly wonderful is that the appeal of a virtual gallery isn't limited to grim futures. Far from it, in fact! Many games, irrespective of their genre, incorporate these spaces for a myriad of reasons, allowing us to find art in unexpected places.
Think about exploration-focused games or intricate puzzle adventures. Here, a gallery might be more than just scenery; the art itself could be a vital clue, a piece of a larger puzzle, or simply an aesthetic delight designed to enhance the game's atmosphere. Then there are narrative-driven experiences, where a museum visit can be a quiet moment for character development, a backdrop for a pivotal plot reveal, or a space for deep contemplation that enriches the player's connection to the story. Even in ‘Walking Simulators’, where the journey and environment are paramount, a well-crafted art space can elevate the experience into something truly profound and thought-provoking.
But what is it that makes these digital sanctuaries so compelling? I think that it's the sheer freedom of exploration. Unlike real-world galleries with their closing times and bustling crowds, virtual ones offer a private, unhurried experience. You can linger over a piece for as long as you like, examining every detail without interruption. It's also a testament to the creativity of game developers, who can either meticulously recreate famous works or conjure entirely new artistic styles that seamlessly integrate into their game worlds. This allows for a unique form of digital preservation and artistic expression, turning games into interactive canvases in their own right.
Some of the videogames I’ve played which have included museums, galleries and other liminal spaces include:
Horizon Zero Dawn: Forbidden West - We see it just before you confront the final big bad
Elden Ring - The corrupted Moon Goddess in the library
The Last of Us 2 - The museum with dinosaurs and astronaut helmet
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West - The pyramid is a tribute to a pre-apocalypse world
The Evil Within 2 - The murderer’s art gallery
Deadly Premonition - Your police companion becomes a murderer’s art piece
Kairo - You are the exhibit in a brutalist Danielweski House of Leaves type maze. It reminds me of the Brutalist structure of the Southbank Centre
The Forever Labyrinth - Inkle’s strangely compelling Google Art and Culture project.
Zelda: A Link to the Past - The secret book hidden in the library and obtained by running into the shelves.
Decarnation - The art gallery with your sculpture that a creepy guy is examining a little too closely
Ultimately, whether they're a solemn nod to a lost world or a vibrant celebration of creativity, art galleries in video games offer a unique kind of escapism. They invite us to pause, to think, and to expand our own ideas, proving that the pursuit of art knows no bounds – not even the pixelated ones.
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