As the summer winds to a close, the funds are tight and the activities left unchecked are limited. Fortunately, there's a place that's in the right location (the city centre), is the right price (free) and arguably, is the right kind of art (interactive). Depicted perhaps by the summer holidays,听 Q Arts has collaborated with HTTP, London in the creation of 'Game/Play' - an exhibition with genuine youth appeal. You know what - we had fun. I say we, because I brought my brother Kyle and best bud Leah along for the journey. Stepping on Water From the beginning the interactivity element is right upon you 鈥 or rather below you, as stepping on an innocent looking white mat causes blue circles or 'ripples' to appear and a splash-in-a-pool-type noise to be heard on some speakers. 'Aquaplayne' is an artistic installation in that you as the user create the art and music - the expression and unpredictability of the creation makes it addictive to the user. You're 'It'!
 | | Being watched in the car park scene |
"Walk to the man wearing the tie," begins a woman's automated voice in 'TAG', the standout element of the exhibition that requires you to interact by moving up and down the space while a video camera up above acts as a sensor, filming you and interpreting your moves across the space. The game lasts about five minutes and is an individual experience 鈥 so we all had a go and found that different 'scenes' were chosen each time. Leah for example faced off against several street-fighters who threw kicks at her as she walked along the play space, while Kyle ended up in an underpass with several homeless people asleep on the floor who woke up as he walked past them. The ending is always the same though and earns the exhibit its offence warning - criminal nouns are simultaneously announced by the same automated voice heard earlier while the word itself appears on the screen and follows where you walk. As you move across the space, it can say anything from "car jacker" to "murderer". Kyle attempted to slow step across the space, perhaps even to slip away quietly without being branded a 鈥渄rug dealer鈥 but to no avail 鈥 the camera truly can see your every move.
 | | Both involved in the graffiti element |
TAG was our favourite exhibit because it consisted of the most interactive element - that each movement led to a reaction in the display was empowering, while the 'always under surveillance' aspect kept it exciting. Bear Love There are other installations and online games, including 'The Endless Forest', 'The Golden Shot' (requires online participation to shoot a paintball gun at a target!) and 'Samorost2', another computer game we were all rubbish at - though I was disappointed that the 'giantJoystick' pictured in promotion for the exhibition was not available, the 'Fluffy Tamagotchi' made up for it.
 | | The gnome characters on 'Samorost2' |
Weighing in at 5 kilos, the Fluffy Tamagotchi unfortunately spends its day sealed in the glass display case - it鈥檚 the materialistic envy of those that gaze upon it and apparently is fully functional. Made between 1996 and 1998, the Fluffy Tamagotchi is basically derived from the original toy Tamagotchi - now adapted to have moving parts, a face made from a toy plastic TV set to convey emotion and a real working digestive system. Generally, these features account for a more aesthetically pleasing demeanour. Don't expect to be able to buy them in the shops, but the 'making of' documentary that plays on a LCD screen next to the real thing is entertaining as it shows the Tamagotchi working - happy, sad, glad and mad. Game Over! The exhibit will be live until September 10th and is a nice trip out - its free, its interactive and while young people and post-modern artists will benefit most from the experience, like me you don't have to necessarily 'get' the meaning behind the pieces for them to be jolly good fun. Game/Play runs from July 22nd to September 10th. Q Arts can be found at 35-36 Queen Street, Derby, DE1 3DS. Admission is free to all.听 | 
