Virtual
Virtual drift and flâneurism are concepts that have developed with the advent of digital technologies, in particular with the accessibility of tools such as Google Street View.
By allowing people to virtually explore different cities and places through immersion in an online visual experience, these new drift forms offer a unique perspective on the concept of urban space.
However, while virtual drifting offers the convenience of exploring locations remotely, it lacks the whole sensory experience that comes with first-person drifting. While Google Street View can provide panoramic views and a visual perspective, it lacks the haptics, smells, sounds and human interactions that characterize the drift-in-place experience.
Another significant difference is the control element. In virtual drifting, the individual can specifically select which views and directions to explore, thus limiting the random and unpredictable aspect of first-person drifting. This can influence the discovery of unexpected places and details that characterize the experience of traditional drifting.
Despite these differences, virtual drift and online flâneurism open up new horizons for urban exploration and reflection on the concept of space. Through the use of digital tools, such as Google Street View, artists and viewers can create new narratives, discover hidden details and grasp the nuances of global urban life.
Inspired by artists such as Jon Rafman, Michael Wolf and Doug Rickard, I experimented with virtual drifting on the Giudecca island. The fact that I have physically and repeatedly drifted in this place certainly distinguishes the outcome of my virtual drift from those of the aforementioned artists. However, it was a significant experience because it allowed me to gather other points of view, of space and, above all, of time.
Physical drift involves physical movement through an urban space, allowing one to directly perceive the "hic et nunc" (trad. "here and now") of the surrounding environment. The physical drift offers complete immersion in the environment, allowing for a deep sensory connection with the space and with the elements that characterize it.
The "hic et nunc" experience plays an important role in the psychogeographic perception of the environment. In physical drift, the individual is immersed in immediate reality, reacting to the nuances and dynamics of the urban environment at that specific moment. Interaction with people, the soundscape and the surrounding atmosphere influence the experience and understanding of that place at any given moment.
On the other hand, virtual drift can offer a fragmented and static look at the urban space. Selected views from Google Street View may be time-dated, not capturing the environment in its exact current state.
However, despite these differences, virtual drift can still provide an opportunity to explore and understand the urban environment from different perspectives. It can provide an overall picture of a place and allow you to discover architectural or cultural details that might otherwise have escaped your attention.
