Part 7: What is the Metaverse? - A Guide for Artists
Artists: Embracing Future Technologies Series - Part 7
This blog post will provide valuable insights into the rapidly growing world of the metaverse and how artists can embrace it.
The metaverse is a term used to describe a collective virtual reality within a shared space. It is a fully immersive environment that enables people to interact with each other, digital objects, and virtual spaces, much like in normal every day life.
For artists, the metaverse presents a unique opportunity to create and showcase their work in a new and exciting way. By embracing the metaverse, artists have the opportunity to reach a broader audience and showcase their creativity in innovative ways.
In this blog post, I will set out the definition of the metaverse, the benefits of the metaverse to artists, and how artists can use it to showcase their work. I will also highlight some of the challenges that come with this new environment and provide some practical tips for navigating them successfully.
Table of Contents
Examples of Metaverse Platforms
How can artists create in the metaverse?
How to get started with creating in the Metaverse
Monetising Art in the Metaverse
How is the Metaverse different to Web 3.0?
How is the Metaverse different to NFTs?
How can you use NFTs in the Metaverse?
What is the Metaverse?
The metaverse can be defined as a fully immersive, interactive, and 3D virtual space that combines elements of the physical world and the digital world. It is a space where people can engage with each other, digital objects, and virtual spaces in real-time, creating a new kind of social interaction and experience.
The concept of the metaverse originated in science fiction, particularly in the novel ‘Snow Crash’ by Neal Stephenson. The book describes a virtual world where people interact with each other in a fully immersive digital space. Today, the metaverse is becoming a reality with the rise of new technologies and platforms that enable people to experience and interact in virtual environments.
Examples of Metaverse Platforms
Some examples of platforms that are building the metaverse include social gaming platforms like Roblox, and decentralised virtual worlds like Decentraland and The Sandbox. These platforms allow users to create and experience fully immersive environments, interact with other users, and engage in various activities.
How can artists create in the metaverse?
Artists can create in the metaverse using a variety of tools and platforms that enable them to build, design, and showcase their work in virtual environments. One of the most popular tools for creating in the metaverse is 3D modeling software, which allows artists to create digital objects and environments. Popular 3D modeling and texturing software includes Blender, Maya, or Substance Painter. Artists can create assets that can be imported into the metaverse.
Other creative techniques that can be used to create in the metaverse include photogrammetry, which involves using photographs to create 3D models, and motion capture, which allows artists to record and animate human movements in a virtual space.
The metaverse provides an ideal platform for artists to create interactive and engaging experiences that would be impossible to achieve with traditional art forms. In this section, I'll explore some examples of how the metaverse is being used to create immersive art experiences.
Interactive installations: In the metaverse, artists can create interactive installations that allow users to experience their art in unique and engaging ways. These installations can incorporate various forms of media, such as sound, video, and animation.
Collaborative art: The metaverse allows for collaborative art projects, where artists can work together to create immersive art experiences. This type of art encourages interaction and engagement, as users are able to contribute to the creation of the artwork.
Virtual galleries: In the metaverse, artists can create virtual galleries to showcase their artwork. These galleries can be designed to replicate real-world art galleries, but with the added benefit of being accessible from anywhere in the world.
For example, VERTIKAL is a tower within a virtual New York that is devoted to digital art and exhibitions. Art & Coffee hosts multiple events for artists and collectors and provides them with space to present themselves and share ideas.
Augmented reality: With the integration of augmented reality (AR) technology, artists can create immersive art experiences that seamlessly blend the virtual and physical worlds. AR technology can be used to overlay digital art onto the real world, creating a new type of mixed-reality art form.
Gaming experiences: The metaverse provides a platform for artists to create gaming experiences that are also works of art. These experiences can be designed to engage and challenge users, while also showcasing the artist's creativity and skill.
Immersive art experiences have become very popular. Please read here to find out more about immersive art and some of the exciting exhibitions in the world’s major cities.
How to get started with creating in the Metaverse
To get started with creating in the metaverse, artists will need a computer or mobile device, along with the following:
A Good Internet Connection - A stable and fast internet connection is essential to ensure smooth interaction with the metaverse. Most platforms require a minimum of 10Mbps download and 5Mbps upload speed for the best user experience. If the internet connection is unstable, it can lead to lagging, disconnection or buffering, which can ruin the experience.
A Metaverse Platform - Choose a platform that aligns with the artist’s goals and interests and then familiarise themselves with the tools and resources available on the platform, and start experimenting with different creative techniques and mediums.
Virtual Reality Headsets - A virtual reality headset is not essential to access the Metaverse, but they can help the user fully immerse themself in it, providing a more realistic and interactive experience. Currently, the most popular VR headsets are Oculus Quest 2, HTC Vive, and Valve Index. These VR headsets come with hand controllers that allow you to interact with the virtual world.
Other equipment - Some metaverse experiences may require additional peripherals, such as headphones or microphones, to communicate with others, cameras to capture motion or create avatars, or even haptic feedback devices, which are used to enable a sense of touch. The equipment requirements vary depending on the platform you use and how immersed you would like to feel.
Monetising Art in the Metaverse
Naturally, monetising art in the metaverse has become an increasingly popular topic among artists and collectors alike. We are still in the early days of the Metaverse and opportunities to make money are still in their infancy.
One of the biggest opportunities for artists in the metaverse is the ability to showcase their work to a global audience in an immersive virtual environment. This can help artists build a following and increase their exposure, leading to more sales, both digitally through NFTs and physical art through greater recognition and publicity.
As the metaverse becomes more established, I would expect more clarity around monetisation strategies for artists.
How is the Metaverse different to Web 3.0?
The metaverse and Web 3.0 are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they actually refer to different concepts. The key differences are as follows:
The metaverse is a virtual world where users can interact with each other and digital objects in a 3D space. By contrast, Web 3.0 is a new version of the internet that emphasises decentralisation and privacy.
While the metaverse is often accessed through a virtual reality headset or other immersive technology, Web 3.0 can be accessed through a regular web browser.
Web 3.0 is designed to prioritise user privacy and data ownership, whereas the metaverse is more focused on providing a social and immersive experience for users.
Despite these differences, the Metaverse and Web 3.0 are closely related concepts. Both are built on emerging technologies, such as blockchain and are part of a larger movement towards a more user-driven internet. For information about Web 3.0, please read Part 1 of this blog series.
How is the Metaverse different to NFTs?
The Metaverse and NFTs are fundamentally different:
The Metaverse is a virtual world where users can interact with each other in a three-dimensional environment. On the other hand, NFTs are unique digital assets that represent ownership of a particular piece of content. They are commonly used to represent digital art, music, and other media.
The Metaverse is a platform for creating and experiencing content and social interactions, while NFTs are a means of monetising and authenticating that content.
The metaverse can be used to create and display NFTs, but NFTs are not a necessary component of the metaverse and can be viewed outside of the Metaverse.
For information about NFTs, please read Part 5 of this blog series.
How can you use NFTs in the Metaverse?
NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) can be used in various ways in the Metaverse. Here are some examples:
Virtual Art: Artists can use NFTs to sell their digital art in the metaverse. NFTs can be used to represent a unique digital artwork, which can be sold to collectors or displayed in virtual galleries.
Virtual Land Ownership: One of the most common uses of NFTs in the metaverse is to establish ownership of virtual land. NFTs can be used to represent virtual land in a blockchain-based metaverse, where ownership of the NFT gives the owner control over the land.
Virtual Items: NFTs can also be used to represent unique virtual items such as clothing, and other accessories that players can use in the Metaverse. These items can be bought, sold, or traded, just like physical items.
Virtual Identities: NFTs can also be used to create unique virtual identities for gaming players. These NFTs can represent a player's avatar, name, and other characteristics that make their virtual identity unique.
How is the Metaverse different to Blockchain?
While the metaverse and blockchain share some similarities, they are fundamentally different technologies with distinct purposes and functions. The key differences include:
Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology that allows for secure, decentralised transactions and data storage. In contrast, the metaverse is a virtual world that enables immersive, interactive experiences, where users can engage with and create everything from art installations and music performances to virtual games and social experiences.
While some Metaverse platforms may use blockchain technology to power transactions and ownership of digital assets, the Metaverse itself is not inherently dependent on blockchain.
For more information about Blockchain Technology, please read Part 2 of this blog series.
Final Thoughts: The Future of the Metaverse and Art
Looking ahead, the Metaverse is likely to become an increasingly important arena for artistic expression, with virtual galleries, immersive installations, and interactive experiences becoming the norm. As such, while the metaverse will not suit all artists, the artists who are able to create compelling and engaging work will be well-positioned to succeed in this emerging market.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post, I hope you have found this Metaverse summary useful. I have written a series of blog posts that explore other new technologies, please see below to find out more.
