MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.- This summer, Cornerhouse presents visitors with a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of the dimensionalized Internet and the landscape of the computer game. Lab3D is a unique exhibition of installed 3D virtual environments by international artists. It also includes Web3D Art 2003; the only international juried exhibition of online works. Lab 3D, curated by Kathy Rae Huffman, is an exhibition of six installations in the Cornerhouse galleries. Altzero 5 is a new performance/sound work by Squidsoup (UK) and Icaras (UK) specially commissioned for the exhibition. The ’Altzero’ environment is a multi-user space in which listeners travel over the surface of a sphere, picking up audio from all sounds within earshot. It is a loop-based spatial soundscape; each loop spatially positioned and represented by visual cues. Altzero 5 has been funded by the Arts Council of England and reflects the commitment by Cornerhouse to produce new work in new genres. A special live event, with sound objects throughout Cornerhouse, will be performed on the opening weekend.
The other works in the exhibition have been selected from the last Web3D Art competition. Earth by John Klima (USA) was recently shown at the Whitney Biennial. Beyond Manzanar by Tamiko Thiel (Japan-Germany) and Zara Houshmand (Iran-USA) was previously shown at SIGGRAPH 2002. In Transit by Michael Pinsky (UK) shown at the ICA London in 2002. Q4U by Feng Mengbo (Beijing, China) was last shown at Documenta 2002. Empyrean by Melinda Rackham (Australia) is accompanied by a theoretical online discussion on www.subtle.net/empyrean/empyre in June 2003.
Another key component of the exhibition is Web3D Art 2003, an international, juried show of 25 online projects from 10 countries, featuring multi-user environments, soundscapes, experimental architecture, and narrative, exploratory works investigating virtual space. Web 3D Art 2003 is available online at www.web3dart.org from 8 March. 
For users without the correct bandwidth and hardware, Web3Dart will be shown simultaneously at Cornerhouse and in partner institutions at ICA London, Watershed, Bristol, Folly Gallery, Lancaster, Ravensbourne College of Art & Design Gallery, Center for Contemporary Art, Skopje, Macedonia, Experiemental Art Foundation, Adelaide, Australia and Media Centre, Huddersfield, offering a unique opportunity to engage with other viewers in the multi-user projects.
Artists who use 3D computer environments have a broad spectrum of ideas about expanding the concept of interior web-space as the landscape of a new territory of the mind. The creation of a 3D space requires a conceptual understanding of volume, space and immersion. The surface space limitation in film and video is immediately expanded with the deep immersion possible with Web3D. 3D art requires a different approach from the viewer-user to either an interactive digital artwork or video. The viewer does not simply press buttons on a remote control or zap through content. In 3D, the viewer must ’navigate’ through content and choose the direction, speed and level of this personal investigation. 
The process of creating virtual space encourages a comparative juxtaposition of artistic space, social space, and commercial space, and therefore allows for experimentation that crosses into previously uncharted territory. The ability to create multi-user spaces promotes communication and community building. In many cases, it is theoretical investigation into significant areas and issues of importance with political reference. Several works incorporate 3D itself as the issue, with form and content under scrutiny.
A series of events and discussions will continue on Thursday nights throughout June with funding from the Japan Foundation, Northwest Arts, and Media Training Northwest. A symposium, in collaboration with Media Training Northwest, The Game Plan, brings together artists, scientists, designers and the public in an art, business and technology context. There will also be Master classes with artists Masaki Fujihata and Feng Mengbo being presented in association with Visiting Arts.
Web3D Art is organised in collaboration with Karel Dudesek, course leader for Interactive Media, Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication, Kent, UK. It was initially organized in 1999, and has had successful online competitions in 2000 and 2002. Jurors for the 2003 selection are: Kathy Rae Huffman, Manchester, UK, Karel Dudesek, London, UK, Arghyro Paouri, Paris, France Masaki Fujihata, Tokyo, Japan and Tom Holley, Huddersfield, UK.