Ultra / 4

Ultra Magazine 4 - Nature

 

Will it still be the sun to melt the wax of our wings?

 

In this issue, we explore the evolving concept of nature within the context of virtual environments and immersive technologies. Traditionally, nature has been viewed as the fabric of reality—the foundational context in which life unfolds. Yet, in virtual worlds, nature often becomes something malleable, a designed environment that we shape and control. While we don’t need trees—or roofs—in these digital spaces, we still recreate them—not out of necessity, but because they evoke emotional responses and bring meaning, rooted in our understanding of the physical world.

 

Is nature, then, an intrinsic quality that persists across all mediums, or is it a construct we continuously recreate, driven by our emotional and sensory needs? How does our relationship with nature change when the boundaries between the virtual and the real become indistinguishable?

 

Through this lens, we also consider how immersive technologies challenge the traditional dualism between physical and virtual spaces. As we inhabit these blended realities, what does it mean to be ‘in nature,’ and how do we redefine the environments that shape our experiences?

 

Contributors: Federico Anselmi, Stex Auer, Ana Brzezinska, Kent Bye, Celine Daemen, EcoLogicStudio - Claudia Pasquero e Marco Poletto, Derrick De Kerckhove, Pase Platform - Valeria Zane e Victor Nebbiolo di Castri, Agnese Pietrobon, Mathieu Pradat

 

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Ultra Magazine is the world’s first publication dedicated exclusively to exploring immersive worlds and experiences—from virtual reality and augmented reality to spatial computing—through a cultural lens.

Each issue revolves around a specific theme and features contributions from a diverse array of creatives and intellectuals, including artists, designers, architects, economists, historians, philosophers, actors, and writers. These voices share their unique perspectives, experiences, and visions around the chosen topic.