Millions of gamers will get to see a new art exhibition after the Serpentine Gallery teamed up with Fortnite to create a virtual version of their show.
US pop artist Kaws is showing his sculptures and paintings at the gallery, with a parallel version available in the game, which is played by more than 100 million people around the world.
Curator Daniel Birnbaum said moving the show online in this way was the beginning of “a new era” in the art world.
The exhibition, Kaws New Fiction, opens today in Kensington Gardens and simultaneously online where gamers will be able to see the gallery, explore its grounds and walk around the show.
Fortnite has been played by more than 125 million people since it was first released in 2017.
Nate Nanzer, vice president of Global Partnerships at Epic Games, said: “This is the second time we’ve partnered with Kaws to bring his unique artistic vision to Fortnite and the first time Fortnite has made a real-world art exhibit accessible virtually to our millions of players around the world.
“Art and creative culture inspire our players on a daily basis and we’re thrilled that this partnership will bring the work of Kaws to an even more diverse global audience. This is a space we plan to continue to invest in over the coming years.”
Visitors to the physical show will also benefit from a collaboration with Acute Art, who have recreated the paintings and sculptures as well as a miniature version of the show as augmented reality which can be seen and shared through their app.
Brooklyn-based Kaws, who worked as an illustrator before making his name as a graffiti artist, said the show was “an incredibly exciting project”.
He said: “I became interested in working with AR when I realised the quality that can be achieved now. Then came the invitation to work with Fortnite. Now all these things come together in a complex exhibition that takes place in parallel realities.”
Mr Birnbaum said: “This project will reach a larger and more diverse audience than any other exhibition I have curated. It marks the beginning of a new chapter of art living in parallel worlds and reaching local and global audiences simultaneously.”
