16 Facts About Char Davies

Char Davies was born on 1954 and is a Canadian contemporary artist known for creating immersive virtual reality artworks.

Char Davies studied liberal arts at Bennington College in Vermont, focusing on philosophy, religion, anthropology and biology for three years from 1973 to 1975.

Char Davies transferred to the University of Victoria and received the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1978.

In 2005, Davies earned a doctorate from Plymouth University for her PhD dissertation about the "philosophical underpinnings of her own art practice".

Char Davies's Interior Body Series was a collection of 3D still images, exploring the possibilities of how art can be viewed in virtual space.

Char Davies is a scuba diver, and some of her underwater experiences have influenced her art.

Char Davies is one of the first artists to use virtual reality as a means of artistic expression.

In 1993, Char Davies began exploring the medium as an arena for art that questions our habitual perceptions about nature and "being", and affirms our embodiment in the world.

Char Davies feels that virtual reality can be used to "examine our perceptions of the world" and allow people to have philosophical experiences within the virtual space.

Virtual reality is a way for Char Davies to extend the concept of art, where a two-dimensional painting is able to be extended through technology into a three-dimensional space which can be explored and invite interaction.

Visual components of the VR space are created not through traditional methods, but rather by algorithms and transparency maps; it is the unique and creative way that Char Davies combines customized programming that make her work unique.

Char Davies emphasizes that it is important to understand that her work is dependent on the team who help her bring her digital art to life.

Char Davies stresses that her work has deep connections to her beginnings as a painter, especially in regards to her sense of color.

Char Davies created an immersive virtual environment in Osmose, integrating 3D visual elements and spatially localized sound with interaction based on breath and balance.

Char Davies had some help to realize her vision for Osmose: John Harrison to create the VR subsystem and Georges Mauro to create the models and textures for the virtual objects.

Char Davies was a founding director of the 3D CG software company Softimage, its first vice-president and director of visual research.