UWM Arts+Technology Night

山海の中町 (Nakamachi no Sankai) is a traditional Japanese town, built between the mountains and the sea; completely constructed from digital blocks in the video game Minecraft. I was able to create the town using reference images of around the feudal Japan era (1185-1868). You are able to experience the town in three ways. A video fly thru shows highlights of the town. An interactive setup allows you to take the character of the game anywhere in the town and surrounding area. The website documents the creation of the town from day one. See it at Japaneseminecraft.wordpress.com

I created this work to show my love for Japan and the beauty of their traditional architecture. I have always felt a connection with Japanese culture and lifestyles that makes me want to explore Japan more. With this work, I decided to focused on the feudal era and similar eras of Japan because modern Japan has too many similarities to western culture in their architecture. My reason for using Minecraft is to show that video games are not just interactive toys but can also be entertaining works of art. The gaming industry is growing, not just as e-sports, but also within the arts. This is my addition to gaming within the arts.