Gameplay. Video Game Culture
Visual of the Exhibition »Gameplay. Video Game Culture« at CCCB in Barcelona.
Thu, December 19, 2019 – Sun, August 30, 2020
Centro de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona

»Gameplay« journeys to the origins of video games, analyses their language and highlights the impact they have had on popular digital culture and on art and society. The exhibition is designed as a space for recreation and reflection where visitors can play and (re)discover video game culture.

Since their popularisation in the seventies and eighties, video games have developed as an expressive and entertainment medium and now occupy a central space in our imaginary to the point that, today, it is impossible to understand contemporary society and culture without relating them with video gaming.

The exhibition takes a look at the history of the medium, video game language, experimentation and artistic innovation, and critical and political video games. The exhibition also raises the issue of the increasing gamification of society: from mobile games to YouTubers and electronic sports (esports) to so-called serious games, educational video games with applications that go beyond entertainment.

With 28 game points, from the first arcade and historic computer games to the new immersive options, »Gameplay« is devised as an exhibition where visitors can play and, at the same time, understand and enjoy video game culture from a critical viewpoint. The show pays particular attention to Catalan production, especially pioneering works, recent indie creations and local artists, and university projects.

»Gameplay. Video Game Culture« is an extended adaptation of »zkm_gameplay. the next level«, designed by and first presented at the ZKM Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe.

Zur Ausstellung im CCCB Barcelona

Open Gallery
  • Two people stand in front of a screen in the exhibition room »zkm_gameplay«.
  • The lettering »Narratives Liquides« can be seen in large red letters in an oblique position. The exhibition entrance begins on the right.
  • A group of people has gathered for a guided tour. You see a man on the far left with light yellow trousers, behind him is a woman with a dark green jacket hanging over her bag. They are listening attentively to the guide.
  • The lettering "Trenanct el cercle magic" can be seen diagonally running. This lettering contains a red-yellow colour gradient.
  • The photo shows a red illuminated room with elegant large office chairs. Three monitors are mounted on the wall, with the chairs in front of them.
  • A visual-sound performance will be shown. Two women are standing at the bottom corners of the large screen at their sound controllers while in the background a colour strip of red, black and white merge into one another.
  • You can see a young woman and a young man, who have scurried over a shop window with old video game figures and discuss them.
  • The photo shows three women sitting in a dark room, with only their silhouette visible. In a semicircle there is a row of screens surrounding the women.
  • A man and a small boy are turned with their backs to the viewer. The boy is wearing a pear-shaped backpack, which embodies a computer game character. At the back of the picture there is a screen with a game, which is played.
  • On the left side of the picture are six portraits of characters from different video games. On the right side of the picture is a man in grey and black with a big backpack.

Overview
  • Two people stand in front of a screen in the exhibition room »zkm_gameplay«.
  • The lettering »Narratives Liquides« can be seen in large red letters in an oblique position. The exhibition entrance begins on the right.
  • A group of people has gathered for a guided tour. You see a man on the far left with light yellow trousers, behind him is a woman with a dark green jacket hanging over her bag. They are listening attentively to the guide.
  • The lettering "Trenanct el cercle magic" can be seen diagonally running. This lettering contains a red-yellow colour gradient.
  • The photo shows a red illuminated room with elegant large office chairs. Three monitors are mounted on the wall, with the chairs in front of them.
  • A visual-sound performance will be shown. Two women are standing at the bottom corners of the large screen at their sound controllers while in the background a colour strip of red, black and white merge into one another.
  • You can see a young woman and a young man, who have scurried over a shop window with old video game figures and discuss them.
  • The photo shows three women sitting in a dark room, with only their silhouette visible. In a semicircle there is a row of screens surrounding the women.
  • A man and a small boy are turned with their backs to the viewer. The boy is wearing a pear-shaped backpack, which embodies a computer game character. At the back of the picture there is a screen with a game, which is played.
  • On the left side of the picture are six portraits of characters from different video games. On the right side of the picture is a man in grey and black with a big backpack.

Accompanying program

Exhibitions / Events