Adonis Archontides

VIDEO ESSAY: THE ART OF VIRTUAL RESIDENCY

VRAL is currently presenting The Death Trilogy by Adonis Archontides, a triptych of works starring his ersatz Sim-clones. To better appreciate the breadth and scope of his work, we are discussing his Sims-based oeuvre. We continue our exploration with the in-game performance Adonis and the Labour of Artistic Production. This project stands out as one of the most inventive integrations of The Sims within an avant-garde context to date, where the processes of art-making and video game mechanics are seamlessly intertwined, creating a fruitful dialogue.

Adonis and the Labour of Artistic Production (2017-2018) centers on the personal and artistic journey of Adonis Archontides during his virtual art residency within The Sims 4, as captured through a series of Instagram posts. The project – which began in December 2017 and concluded in February 2018, in preparation of Archontides’ first solo exhibition, which opened on February 22nd, 2018 – explores themes of artistic creation, the transient nature of beauty and inspiration, and the interplay between personal life, gaming interactions, and creative expression. During his virtual residency, Adonis investigated the essence of artistic labor and the impact of the environment on creativity, sharing interesting insights into his artistic process. Like Marshall McLuhan, Adonis seems to share the idea that media – video games included – create environments, rather than just “content” or “messages”.

Like the subsequent work, Adonis and Adonis and Adonis and Adonis and Adonis and Adonis and Adonis and Wade and the Effort of Consciousness, Adonis and the Labour of Artistic Production relies on digital platforms to chronicle the construction of identity and reality in virtual or digitally mediated environments. However, while the former focuses on the multiplicity of self and philosophical explorations within a simulated game world, the latter engages more with the physicality of the artistic process and its documentation in real-time, offering a more intimate look at the everyday life and productive cycles of an artist. Together, both projects showcase Adonis’s ongoing interest in merging life and art with digital means, continually pushing the boundaries on how art is created, experienced, and discussed in the age of video games. 

The residency was cleverly narrated through a series of posts on Instagram. Adonis and the Labour of Artistic Production developed in stages, from…

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Matteo Bittanti

Works cited

Adonis Archontides

Adonis and the Labour of Artistic Production

Performance documentation in The Sims 4, screenshots, Instagrams posts, 2017-2018

All images courtesy of Adonis Archontides

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VIDEO ESSAY: PLAYFUL PERFORMANCES. THE SIMS AS AN EXPERIMENTAL PLATFORM

VRAL is currently presenting The Death Trilogy by Adonis Archontides, a tryptic of works starring his ersatz Sim-clones. To better appreciate the breadth and scope of this artwork, we are discussing his oeuvre. We continue our exploration with the in-game performance Adonis and Adonis and Adonis and Adonis and Adonis and Adonis and Adonis and Wade and the Effort of Consciousness.

Also known as Adonis x7 and Wade and the Effort of Consciousness, this project can be compared to a Socratic dialogue taking place within The Sims 4, where Adonis had created multiple Sim replicas of himself. This specific setting is a virtual environment operating as, “a microcosm of capitalist society”. In other words, The Sims 4 is the conduit through which Adonis can reflect upon societal norms and behaviors through a controlled, simulated environment where variables and parameters can be manipulated at will, thus serving as a laboratory for broader cultural and social commentary.

The interlocutor is a character named Wade, an interviewer who engages in a discussion with these various iterations of Adonis. Wade serves as a narrative device who helps elucidate the philosophical and artistic ideas being explored by Adonis in his project. This character could therefore be seen as a stand-in for the audience or an external observer, offering responses and questions that help deepen the exploration of the themes discussed. Wade is essential in facilitating the dialogue that bridges the virtual experiences within The Sims and deeper existential and artistic concepts evoked by Adonis and his replicas.

In the conversation with his clones, Adonis proposes using video games as an artistic medium rather than mere entertainment, emphasizing their empathetic potential and immersive capabilities. According to Adonis, digital games are primarily spaces, rather than stories. And they are tools rather than products. Above all, they foster a deep understanding and connection to different human conditions, which is something that only art can achieve. This is why Adonis mentions his 2014 thesis in which he explored in depth the notion of video games as art. Adonis x7 and Wade and the Effort of Consciousness is, in many ways, an update that further develops three major themes.

The first is the notion that virtual worlds can be conceived as artistic spaces for experimentation and exploration of aesthetic and philosophical concepts. Adonis argues, through his many alter egos, that games like The Sims allow for unique forms of storytelling and artistic expression. The artist suggests that these platforms can be used to stage performances and installations, such as his residency project involving the world of Eos from Final Fantasy XV. In fact, video games allow artists to transcend concrete and geographical limitations. Unlike IRL galleries or performance spaces, virtual environments allow…

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Matteo Bittanti

Works cited

Adonis Archontides

Adonis x7 and Wade and the Effort of Consciousness

Performance within The Sims 4, stills, text, 2019.

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ARTICLE: THE LOCKDOWNS NEVER ENDED

Adonis Archontides, Adonis and the Lockdown Tactics, digital video, sound, color, 4’ 05”, 2020, Cyprus.

VRAL is currently presenting The Death Trilogy by Adonis Archontides, a tryptic of works starring his ersatz Sim-clone. To better appreciate the breadth and scope of his video art, we will we will embark on a critical exploration, beginning with Adonis and the Lockdown Tactics.

Archontides’s Adonis and the Lockdown Tactics (2020) is an introspective short machinima created with/in The Sims 4 (2014). Originally developed as part of a broader cultural initiative by the Cypriot Cultural Services during the COVID-19 pandemic, this work was among fifty projects that received accolades for promoting audio-visual creativity in challenging times. This machinima leverages Will Wright’s popular simulation game to explore themes of repetition and monotony, resonating with the enforced isolation and government mandated "social distancing" experienced globally during a series of shelter-in-place initiatives. Watched in 2024, this work feels at once anachronistic and very timely, remote and fresh. 

The premise of Adonis and the Lockdown Tactics is deeply influenced by the Simulation Hypothesis, a concept prevalent in science fiction - and particularly loved by Silicon Valley’s edgelords - where reality as we know it is posited as an elaborate artifice, a cruel joke concocted by a superior, likely malevolent, intelligence. In Archontides’ piece, this “theory” is subtly referenced through the repetitive, looped nature of the Sims’ existence, mirroring the monotony of lockdown life, which seems to have lost its sense of progression, its teleology. The protagonist, a Sim replica of Adonis himself, navigates the so-called daily life in a state of perpetual loop, echoing the equally apathetic anti-hero of…

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Matteo Bittanti

Works cited 

Adonis Archontides

Adonis and the Lockdown Tactics

machinima/digital video, color, sound, 4’ 05”, 2020. Cyprus.

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EVENT: ADONIS ARCHONTIDES (APRIL 26 - MAY 9 2024, ONLINE)

The Death Trilogy

performance documentation, digital video and audio recorded in The Sims 4, 33’ 05”, 2024, Cyprus

Created by Adonis Archontides

Za woka genava (I think you are hot), Ya gotta wob’ere! Ya gotta wob’ere! (Don’t give up! Keep trying!) and Za woka genava (I think you are hot) form a trilogy in which Archontides delves into the use of video games as a platform for documenting dual performances, those of himself and his avatar, Adonis (Sim), created within the popular simulation game, The Sims 4. This unique collaboration highlights a peculiar interdependence: although Archontides controls the outcomes of their joint endeavors, both entities contribute essential roles to their creative process. These performances unfold under the passive gaze of an audience, drawn into a somewhat sadistic voyeurism. Yet, crucially, Adonis (Sim) remains unaware of his reality as a digital construct, performing actions dictated by Archontides that, while impossible in the real world, are completely feasible within the game’s algorithmic constraints. The Death Trilogy pushes the boundaries of digital life and death, as evidenced in the final moments of each piece. Here, viewers witness Adonis’s resurrection, a thematic echo of the limitless possibilities afforded by simulated environments.

Adonis Archontides is a multidisciplinary artist who studied Illustration & Visual Media at the University of the Arts in London. His works are satirical and introspective; they often investigate the production of identity as a conscious or subconscious process, and the porosity between fiction, reality, and simulation. Part of his research focusing on his namesake Adonis, an ancient Greek nature deity, revolves around the effects of time on the interpretation of myths. An avid gamer, Archontides believes in the artistic potential of video games which often uses as raw material in his artistic practice. He has been collaborating with an avatar of himself created in the popular simulation game The Sims 4, juxtaposing Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey with an artist’s career trajectory through an episodic narrative. Archontides lives and works in Limassol, Cyprus.

MMF MMXXIV: SLOT MACHINIMA

Image: Dall-e 3

The Milan Machinima Festival MMXXIV presents Slot Machinima, a new exhibition that showcases the growing relevance of machinima as a cutting-edge form of video art. Curated by Matteo Bittanti, this immersive exhibition features eight thought-provoking installations by international artists who push the boundaries of creative expression using video game engines.

Slot machinima

March 11-15 2024 09:00 - 18:00

Contemporary Exhibition Hall

IULM 6, IULM University

Via Carlo Bo 7, 20143 Milano

official website

curated by Matteo Bittanti

artists: Adonis Archontides, Steven Cottingham, Kara Güt, Thomas Hawranke, Andy Hughes, Carson Lynn, Stephan Panhans and Andrea Winkler, Bram Ruiter.

The exhibition’s title alludes to the elements of chance, repetition, and the blurring of reality and fiction inherent in both slot machines and the narrative structures of the exhibited works. As viewers navigate the expansive 800-square-meter Contemporary Exhibition Hall at IULM University, they are transported into surreal and often unsettling virtual worlds that challenge perceptions of reality, fiction, and the boundaries between the two. The curator eschews a rigid, linear presentation of the works, instead favoring an approach that embraces randomness and fluidity, creating an immersive context more akin to a video installation format than a traditional cinematic formula. The exhibition space is reminiscent of Plato’s cave, where visitors encounter works that blend the real and the virtual, the familiar and the uncanny. The carefully curated selection of machinima works, each with its own unique aesthetic and narrative style, invites viewers to question the nature of reality and the role of technology in shaping our perceptions. By embracing the unpredictable and the non-linear, Slot Machinima encourages active engagement and personal interpretation, allowing each visitor to construct their own narrative journey through the exhibition.

The comparison to slot machines extends beyond the element of chance; it also speaks to the addictive nature of the works on display, or rather, their source. Just as slot machines are designed to keep players engaged through a combination of anticipation, reward, and repetition, the machinima works in Slot Machinima draw viewers in with their mesmerizing visuals, compelling narratives, and the promise of new discoveries around every corner, which are the main ingredients of video games. In short, the exhibition becomes a space where visitors can lose themselves in the virtual worlds created by the artists, blurring the lines between the real and the imagined.

Ultimately, Slot Machinima challenges traditional notions of art consumption and presentation. By embracing randomness, interactivity, and the immersive qualities of video installations, the curator invites visitors to become active participants in the construction of meaning. The exhibition serves as a testament to the power of machinima as an art form, showcasing its ability to create compelling, thought-provoking experiences that push the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of digital storytelling. Key themes include the representation of warfare in the digital age, the complexities of human intimacy in virtual spaces, and the nature of control and agency in digital environments.

Steven Cottingham’s As far as the drone can see navigates the complex terrain of warfare representation, highlighting the critical perspective on the flood of images emerging from contemporary conflict zones. By introducing a female journalist character into the military simulation software ArmA 3, Cottingham challenges gender biases and explores the potential of digital simulations to represent the complex realities of conflict. European premiere. 

Kara Güt’s Lurker1 delves into the contours of human intimacy as shaped by the digital era, documenting the journey of a Twitch user practicing speedrunning while engaging with a sole chat participant. The work explores themes of constructed detachment from reality and power dynamics within virtual spaces. European premiere. 

Andy Hughes’s Inner Migration takes viewers on an exhilarating ride through Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City, juxtaposing dystopian game footage with archival films to contrast past visions of utopia with the harsh realities of a world under corporate dominance. The piece prompts reflection on the disparity between historical optimism and the current global situation, suggesting that for some, the dystopian imagery may already be a reality. World premiere.

Carson Lynn’s A bronze anvil falls to the earth. merges gameplay with performance art, transporting viewers into a chthonic realm where a solitary avatar engages in fierce combat with monstrous creatures. The intense battles serve as a metaphor for the LGBTQ+ community's real-world struggles against oppression, emphasizing the significance of perseverance and the quest for acceptance. European premiere. 

Thomas Hawranke’s seminal work Play as Animals offers a unique perspective on the virtual world of Grand Theft Auto V by focusing on the often-overlooked animal characters. Originally presented as a two-channel installation, the work is now showcased as a single-channel video that assembles YouTube clips, video sequences, and sound fragments to create a compelling narrative. By stepping into the roles of these non-human characters, players are invited to view the game’s world through a fresh lens, challenging established norms and inviting a reevaluation of their interaction with the virtual environment.

Bram Ruiter’s Infinite Skies, a machinima created during his film school years, explores themes of grief and purgatory. Set against the expansive, generative landscapes of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the work marks an early milestone in Ruiter’s journey into avantagrade filmmaking. Revisited and remastered in 2024, but never seen before in an exhibition space, Infinite Skies showcases Ruiter’s evolving appreciation for the intricate exploration of complex themes through the medium of machinima. World premiere. 

Adonis Archontides’s Ya gotta wob’ere! Ya gotta wob’ere! (Don't give up! Keep trying!) (2019) is the third installment of a trilogy developed within The Sims 4 between 2018 and 2020, alongside Za woka genava (I think you are hot) (2019) and Sulsul! Plerg Majah Bliff? (Hello! Can I do something else please?) (2018). In these works, Archontides crafts challenging scenarios for Non-Player Characters (NPCs), exploring the challenges of our increasingly digital existence.

Stefan Panhans and Andrea Winkler’s »If You Tell Me When Your Birthday Is« (Machinima version) is a single-channel video that delves into the intricacies of communication with artificial intelligence in the modern age. The work features a series of absurdist dialogues between the artists and various AI chatbots, juxtaposed against surreal landscapes created using the video game engine Unity. Throughout the piece, Panhans and Winkler explore themes of intimacy, authenticity, and the search for genuine connection in a world saturated with artificial intelligence. By incorporating this work into the exhibition, the curator invites viewers to consider the complex relationship between humans and artificial intelligence, and the ways in which our interactions with AI shape our understanding of ourselves and others. Panhans and Winkler’s playful work serves as a thought-provoking commentary on the challenges and possibilities of communication in the digital age, and the ongoing negotiation between authenticity and artificiality in our daily lives.

Slot Machinima highlights the growing significance of machinima as a powerful tool for artistic expression and critical inquiry. By appropriating and repurposing video game engines of popular “Triple A productions” such as Grand Theft Auto V, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Cyberpunk 2077, Dark Souls III, ArmA3 and The Sims, these artists create compelling aesthetic experiences that blur the lines between the virtual and the real, inviting viewers to question the nature of their own existence in an increasingly digital world. The exhibition stands as a testament to the limitless potential of machinima as an avant-garde medium, pushing the boundaries of contemporary video art.

Read more about the 7th edition of the Milan Machinima Festival

MMF MMXXIV: ADONIS ARCHONTIDES

We are elated to introduce Adonis Archontides’s Ya gotta wob’ere! Ya gotta wob’ere! (Don't give up! Keep trying!) at the 2024 edition of the Milan Machinima Festival.

Ya gotta wob‘ere! Ya gotta wob’ere! (Don’t give up! Keep trying!) (2019) by Adonis Archontides is the third installment of a trilogy developed with/in The Sims 4 between 2018 and 2020, alongside Za woka genava (I think you are hot) (2019) and Sulsul! Plerg Majah Bliff? (Hello! Can I do something else please?) (2018). In all of these works, Archontides crafts challenging scenarios for Non-Player Characters (NPCs), exploring the challenges of our increasingly digital existence. Echoing Angela Washko’s seminal Free Will Mode, this work prompts reflection on control and chaos, agency and surveillance. In her essay titled “When our reflections/avatars die, do they go to heaven?”, Eria Dapola described Adonis’ performance as evocative of a world filled with silent but brutal conflicts, with the artist cast as a non-traditional hero navigating through passive-aggressive violence. The video work highlights the dynamic between the artist and avatar, showcasing a relentless survival effort in a confined, yet transparent space. Additionally, curator Chloe Stavrou suggests that Adonis (Sim) embodies a struggle of futile resistance against the game’s implacable algorithmic logic, culminating in inevitable failure followed by virtual resurrection. What is indisputable is that this repetitive cycle interrogates the concept of autonomy within digital spaces. A Sim running on a treadmill to their demise, compelled to repeat the action over and over, without any meaningful goal or higher purpose, is a poignant metaphor for life in the 21st century.

Adonis Archontides, a multidisciplinary artist with a background in Illustration & Visual Media from the University of the Arts London, creates works that are both satirical and introspective. His art delves into identity formation as a deliberate or unconscious act and explores the blur between fiction, reality, and simulation. His research includes an exploration of his namesake, Adonis, the ancient Greek deity of vegetation and desire, examining how interpretations of myths evolve over time. An enthusiastic gamer, Archontides sees significant artistic value in video games, often incorporating them into his practice. Recently, he has embarked on a collaboration with his own avatar in The Sims 4, weaving together Joseph Campbell’s concept of the hero’s journey and the artist’s career path into an episodic narrative. Archontides is based in Limassol, Cyprus, where he continues to live and work. His work Adonis and the Lockdown Tactics was featured in the 2021 edition of the Milan Machinima Festival. 

Read more about the 7th edition of the Milan Machinima Festival