Installation

Air raid sirens sound. On the streets of Ukraine, the world comes to a standstill. Underground, in metros, barracks, and basements of hospitals, schools, churches, and factories, life continues.

Children go to school. People dance. Soldiers take shelter from the rain of bombs before they go out to fight. These are experiences that are far away for most of us, but for the people living in it, an inescapable reality.

Underground Shelter uses virtual reality to immerse viewers in the wartime shelters of Ukraine where life continues as best as it can. Reminding those in the Netherlands, who've known decades of peace, of the realities of war. What's it like to endure war from a shelter?

Installation Plan

The Shelter VR installation merges the virtual world of the film with the physical environment of an actual shelter. A basement, cellar, bunker or bomb shelter in our part of the world is designed to mirror the atmosphere of an underground shelter in Ukraine. Groups of up to 10 people are invited in and experience the film together. The goal is to create a shared, reflective and social film viewing that blurs the line between ‘us’ and ‘them’ and deepens our understanding of what it means to live through a war.

1. Location Requirements

The installation requires an underground location to authentically replicate the setting of the film. Suitable locations include:
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• Basements, cellars, or bunkers.
• Underground parking garages.
• Subterranean spaces near the festival venue.

2. Physical Setup

Atmosphere
The space should maintain its raw, unfinished aesthetic with concrete walls, and exposed pipes.

Furnishings
Arrange simple chairs, benches, or mattresses in an informal layout, mirroring the photo reference from the real shelter.

Lighting
Use existing lighting.

3. Technology

VR Equipment
• 5 to 10 wireless VR headsets (e.g., Meta Quest 3 or similar), synchronized to play the film simultaneously for all viewers.

• A synchronization system to ensure the VR experiences start at the same time.

External Audio
Use surround sound, this creates a shared auditory experience.

Connectivity
Ensure the location has sufficient power supply and internet for the VR headsets and synchronization tools.

4. Experience Flow

1. Arrival: Visitors enter the underground space, immediately experiencing the subdued, bunker-like atmosphere.

2. Seating and Preparation: Visitors are seated on chairs or mattresses, where the VR headsets are prepared.

3. VR Experience: The film begins simultaneously for all participants, with external audio filling the space and enhancing the shared experience.

4. Reflection: After the film ends, visitors can sit quietly in the space of move to an adjacent area where there is in the center of the room one screen with a live Air Raid Alert Map of Ukraine. (https://alerts.in.ua/en). The shifting orange and green colors remind the viewer that for many Ukrainians air raid alerts and spending time in shelters have become the new normal.

5. Practical Notes

Accessibility
Provide accommodations for individuals with mobility impairments to access the space.

Scalability
The installation can be adapted to fit various room sizes, with flexibility in the number of participants and equipment.