The artists that I am covering are Survival Research Laboratories and Rachel Rossin. Survival Research Laboratories builds real world machine art and other art then uses the machinery to destroy the art, filming the performances which may or may not be open to the public. I discovered Rachel Rossin on http://www.gamescenes.org/ and Survival Research Laboratories on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_art. My reason for picking these two artist is because the name Survival Research Laboratories on an art site caught my interest; it went from there and Rachel Rossin has made art relating to video games that I play.

Rachel Rossin does video game inspired art, creating art work and virtual spaces inspired by video games. One is called n=7 / The Wake of Heat in Collapse, it is a virtual reality scene using warped images in Oculus Rift ( (BITTANTI, 2015). Much of her art is based on the concept of lossy the loss of information when a file is compressed to save space, she compares it to decay and the warping of reality in a virtual space it her expression of the process of inevitable decay (Stinson, 15).By Scanning images, from games, her studio, her painting into Oculus Rift she creates a virtual reality.

Rossin’s own words,

"Descending into a 3-dimensional Dantesque underworld, the viewer navigates a landscape of hacked architectural and video game imagery, algorithmic collages generated from famous paintings (e.g. Guernica and Klimt's The Kiss), corporate signage, browser logos and clippings from scenic destinations."(BITTANTI, 2015).

Another work of hers is After GTA V, is warped scenes from the video game Grand Theft Auto Five which I have played. Making a surreal abstract work out of a hyper violent yet immersive video game. Both of these works can be seen on http://www.gamescenes.org/. She also maintains a website http://www.rossin.co which is also an online gallery she can be contacted through her website it has numerous other works by her.

Rossen likes to combine both classical art techniques as well as digital media creating a painting in traditional media then transferring the image to a digital format manipulating it creating virtual worlds she is a multi media and installation artist (BITTANTI, 2015) .She designs exhibits both solo and with groups (ROSSIN, 2015, p. CV)

Survival Research Laboratories was formed in November, 1978 by Mark Pauline (Survival Reseach Laboratories, 2015). They maintain a website http://www.srl.org which list shows, history and pictures of SRL. SRL does mechanical art that usually involves some sort of destructive mechanical device control remotely (Survival Reseach Laboratories, 2015). The have 45 devices that are used in shows and exhibits in the United States and Europe (Survival Reseach Laboratories, 2015). Their motto is “Dangerous and Disturbing Mechanical Productions since 1978 “ a look at the art and you can see why (Survival Reseach Laboratories, 2015).

SRL takes devices intended for use in industrial and military applications and uses them to create films and exhibits usually with some socio-political theme involved (Survival Reseach Laboratories, 2015). They also invent some of their own devices and have used the internet to remotely control machines; they used three machines, one in San Francisco and two in Tokyo with operators in the opposite city (Survival Reseach Laboratories, 2015).

Rossen’s work reminds me of the video games that inspire her, After GTA V, is like a sunset in the game, only twisted. I like how she will take a painting that she has done in traditional medium and copy it digital then reimagine it. I watched some video that of her VR material and I have to wonder what it is like to see it through the VR goggles. I like how SRL reuses and creates industrial devices and uses them to create art much of what they do is surreal, violent, and hellish. The machines cut, crush, tear, burn and shoot objects and other machines in a display of power that is impressive. It reminds me of a world I read about that is populated by demonically possessed machines. A lot of people, permissions and permitting go into a SRL show but it looks like it would certainly be entertaining. As much of their work is socio-political satire you will sometimes see images of classical and contemporary objects in a scene which is often destroyed.

The two artist both are making statements about society and life, Rossen by expressing decay and change while SRL through chaos and destruction. They both are creating alternate realities for the viewer through different medium; Rossin with VR technology and SRL by filming scenes and sound. Rossin creates painting, digital art and films life while SRL creates mechanical sculptures puts them in scenes and films the results. Both provide a big visual experience for the view. Considering what SRL do I wonder what they would do with VR equipment?