BERLIN.- From the 27th of April to 2nd of May the participating galleries for this years Gallery Weekend can be visited virtually. The Virtual Gallery Weekend Berlin beta is not a simple visualization of an art event, but a shared experience with the aim to interact, exchange thoughts on artworks and pass on Information within a virtual 3D environment. In addition, the objective is to explore interfaces between the real and the virtual world of the Gallery Weekend. It is accessible to anyone without an invitation or fees.

In the Virtual Gallery Weekend Berlin beta each gallery show room is placed on the map of Berlin at it's respective location. Visitors can explore the event with an avatar and

• prepare the visit to the Gallery Weekend

• visit the virtual show room of each gallery and view the art works displayed in the real gallery as well as some art works that are only visible in the virtual showroom

• contact the gallery owner and state buying interest

• share information and impressions with friends and other visitors

• virtually participate in the event when unable to attend in person

The Virtual Gallery Weekend was created by Spinning Wire in collaboration with the Gallery Weekend to accompany the real event and to adjust to the changing needs of the art world. Spinning Wire is an idea lab with the focus on ‘space media’ the emerging form of communication in digital 3D worlds. It was was founded in February 2011 in Berlin by an international team: Juha Hulkko (founder of Elektrobit, created the 3D Software RealXtend), Dr. Francois Garnier (professor at ENSAD/ Paris, computer graphics pioneer, 3D film director and media designer, recent project ‘Pina’, a film by Wim Wenders) and Heinz Siepmann (entrepreneur).

A preview (without art works) is online from the 24 April. The full show is online from the 27th of April to 2nd of May.