Andre Hemer – Korean city rebuilt in the game Simcity and turned into public installation

Hemer used information taken from Google to rebuild the Korean city Ulsan in the game SimCity and showed it later in form of a public sculpture.

Hemer used information by Google and Google Earth to rebuild the Korean city Ulsan in the game SimCity and showed it later in form of a public sculpture.

“This project started with the point of view that much of our cultural knowledge in the contemporary world is gained from online digital media and interface. As such there is often a disconnection between the fragmented nature of digital culture and real histories and culture.
As an international artist removed from the historical realties of Ulsan, I choose to respond to the location through the cultural means that are most obvious to me. While working in Sydney I began the project by locating Ulsan through various Google and Google Earth searches to geographically understand Ulsan. I then used the geographical information to create a virtual map of Ulsan in the computer game Simcity. Using this map I played Simcity for one month- to reimagine and recreate my own Ulsan. Using 3D models of actual Korean and International buildings created by online gaming users, and hacks within the game to produce my own colour buildings, I was able to create a city that is a combination of real and fantastical elements.
The installation of this project presents the map of Ulsan based around the Taehwa River back to the local population- to question, provoke, and engage with both the real and imagined Ulsan. Additionally, the media work captures fly-bys of the game in play.”

The project was on display at the Taehwa-river Eco Art Festival (태화강국제설치미술제) in Ulsan, Korea.

> More about the Taehwa-river Eco Art Festival (in Korean), curated by Hzone

> More installations of Andre Hemer on Public Delivery