THE GAME WORLDS OF JASON ROHRER

Davis Museum at Wellesley College, Wellesley MA

The Games Worlds of Jason Rohrer was a retrospective of independent game designer Jason Rohrer and was the first known example of a museum exhibition devoted to a single video game artist. The central theme examined where video games are positioned within our daily culture and asked the question whether or not video games are art. The space was designed around three large installations that created immersive interactive environments to enhance game-play and formed an interpretation of the games themselves. The installations blurred the separation between gallery object and gallery display, utilizing projections, music, LED lighting, and mirrors to enhance the viewing experience. The design approach challenged the traditional notion that exhibition design should sit quietly behind the exhibited work. While the design was centered on creating a focus on exhibited works, The Games Worlds of Jason Rohrer explored new possibilities in exhibition design.