Virtual Reality Showcased In Melbourne Fringe Fest Art-Tech Mashup

Sorry 3D film, it looks like Virtual Reality is going to send you the way of HD-DVD, the Minidisc and Google Glass. While VR has been around for decades (lest we forget Pierce Brosnan in The Lawnmower Man), the advent of high definition graphics, 360-photography and tech like the mind-bendingly amazing Oculus Rift (and its slight more affordable cousin, Samsung Gear VR), the virtual reality experience has become finally become more, well, real.

Big commercial industries, such as retail and, believe it or not, porn, have already dipped their toes (and other appendages, probably) into the waters of VR, and now artists are cottoning on to the possibilities unlocked by strapping a screen to your face. Ever the arena of artistic trailblazers, it's hardly a surprise that the work of early adopters is often found in fringe festivals, and Melburnians can get virtual on their reality during the Melbourne Fringe Fest, which kicks off 14 September.

Presented by Virtual Reality Cinema as part of the Melbourne Fringe's independent program, 15 VR shorts will be on offer at 178 Johnston St, Collingwood, seating 12 participants at a time. These include the spooky thrills of a ghost train ride in A Southern Dark Ride, a 360 street art doco, Adnate, an animated fantasy Before the Junk Age and an intimate gig experience with Melbourne's emerging acoustic star Didirri. Tickets for performances are just $14.

Every Wednesday to Friday from 14 Sep - 1 Oct. For full program details and tickets visit the Virtual Reality Cinema website.