“Prop Comic” is a feminist re-imagining of the classic “Popeye” comic strip, presented in the nostalgic format of a newsprint publication. This comic follows Olive Oyl as she navigates a mirror world stripped of Popeye and his familiar friends. Isolated in a cityscape defined by shifting brick walls, Olive confronts obstacles crafted by a manipulative creator. Each strip offers a poetic twist on the damsel in distress trope, as she stumbles through the complexities of modern existence with animated props and henchmen as her only companions.
The Weather Risograph printed, staple stitch with soft cover. 2022 6 in x 9 in, 24 pages Edition of 300
The Weather is a collection of global warming agitprop posters, illustrations, and political cartoons that capture Graham’s fears about the climate crisis. It is rooted in criticism about the lack of political action and social change toward tangible solutions. These works employ humor, satire, and emotional appeals to acknowledge her frustrations.
STARTED: 2019
END DATE: FALL 2024
PLATFORM: Meta Quest 2 and 3 ASPECTS: VR interactive narrative experience WEBSITE
“Diatribes” is a poetic VR experience that explores the internal conflicts that arise when we’re confronted with the reality of climate change.
STORY:
“Diatribes” is a poetic VR interactive narrative that explores the internal conflicts surrounding climate change. In a 15-20 minute experience, players navigate a surreal mindspace filled with distractions and emotional turmoil. This dynamic world transforms based on your emotional state—sometimes inviting contemplation through meditative tasks, while at other times thrusting you into a high-stakes gauntlet between Nature and Civilization.
As you journey through diverse landscapes, you’ll unlock ancient myths and receive guidance from a therapeutic companion. The experience intertwines personal reflection with broader climate issues, encouraging players to confront their anxieties and envision a hopeful future.
PROJECT HISTORY:
Inspiration for “Diatribes” came from the ecological philosopher Timothy Morton’s description of climate change as a “hyperobject” — a thing so massively distributed that you can’t see it in its entirety, but you can conceive it. To represent a concept like this we looked to surrealism, an artistic movement that is effective in depicting the unnerving, illogical scenes that surround us. The climate crisis is increasingly present in our daily lives, but understanding its enormity is still confusing for many, often triggering strong emotions that undermine constructive conversations. We hope this VR experience will encourage people to move towards open dialogue about our anxieties and make a space for people to discuss what is needed to take action towards a healthier future for the planet.
The first demo was completed in 2019 for the HTC VIVE through a New Media fellowship grant from Kala Art Institute. A vertical slice of the game world was completed in early 2022 for the Oculus Quest 1 while we participated in the Oculus Launch Pad program. The final version is an interactive 6 DOF game, made for the Quest 2 and 3 and was funded by Meta’s Oculus Launch Pad Grant. It is a single player experience that can be played standing or sitting. The player must complete tasks and navigate the surroundings to move the story forward.
2023 Salon talk at Gray Area that summarizes our project goals (10min)
Real Milk is based on real-life “smart” dairy farms, where cows milk themselves using milking robots. This technology is said to benefit the cow, who is thought to be happier because she can produce milk on her own schedule. Most importantly, the milk tastes better because it is more pure. Real Milk shows multiple intersecting perspectives: the farming systems that guide the cow’s behavior; the cow who is quietly passing through these systems; and the disembodied voice that sells the story of bovine empowerment (and maximum yield). These perspectives visibly overlap across the translucent pages of the book, forming a complex picture. Ultimately, what seems like autonomy is really automation.
Each page of Real Milk is composed using interlocking “Wang tiles”. This mathematical system consists of 16 square tiles that can be endlessly combined without forming any repeating patterns. For decades, Wang tiles and similar graphical systems have been used in video games from Pac-Man to Stardew Valley to draw maps that suggest coherent worlds extending beyond the frame. In Real Milk, the sprawling tiles illustrate the cow’s dream of freedom, as well as hint at the unseen rules that structure her dream. They also provided a unique way to collaborate for Veronica Graham, who drew the Wang tile sets; and Ryan Kuo, who recombined and arranged Veronica’s tiles into full page layouts. Neither person could completely predict what shapes would form. Together with the computer, they worked toward an uncertain end, letting the system finish their thought.
“Bringing together the work of visual artists practicing in printmaking, sculpture and drawing, Not Quite Fatal engages with our current collective state of climate grief and environmental anxiety. Exploring a range of artistic responses and personal identities, artists Flannery Cashill, Julio Del Rio, Ocean Escalanti, Luis Estrada, Most Ancient, Gilvon Greer and Danielle Wright addresses place/displacement within the environment and the urgency of community care.”
Ice Breakers
Risograph printed, saddle stitch with soft cover.
7.25 in x 9.5 in, 28 pages
2021
Ice Breakers is the third installment for Weather Reports, a series of seasonal “spell” books that are part comic strip and part visual poem. It captures the emotional ups and downs of daily existence through the use of humor, cultural references, political theory, personal narratives, and sequential art. This version took the entirety of 2020 to complete and is a reflection on a time that is distinct from what came before.
Water SIMs
2020
Description: Water SIMs is part of the “Calming Video” series, short time-based work that is a celebration of non-action in a world obsessed with productivity. They are inspired by writings from Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. In “Water Sims” a translation of Lao Tzu words about water’s passive mutability stream across a collage sequence of water simulations. The water we see is a poor replica of the original, but the value of simulations lies in the process of repetition not in the result. Understanding is achieved by observing differences.
Sound: Julia Kim Visuals: V.A. Graham
Two Potted Plants In A World Without Nature
2020
Description: “Two Potted Plants in a World Without Nature” is about the transformative power of being tethered to one place. The cyclical rising and falling of the plants mimic the deep breathing exercises used to detect sensations in our bodies. A grid of repeating animations sway between moments of harmony and discord creating a constantly shifting visual awareness on the screen. These visuals were composed using analog video synthesizers during a residency at Signal Culture (NY). This video is designed to lull viewers into a hypnotic introspection.
Sound: Julia Kim Visuals: V.A. Graham
Play through video of the first prototype of “Diatribes”
Diatribes: Early Prototypes
2019
PLATFORM: HTC Vive and Oculus Rift
An early demo for “Diatribes” premiered in Fall 2019 at Kala Art Institute as a roomscale VR experience housed inside an installation of 3D and 2D concept art. Over the course of 2 weeks visitors were invited to play test the game and give feedback to the design team.
To see the latest information about the project visit the “Diatribes” webpage.
Global Warming Agitprop Posters
started 2020, ongoing project
13in x 19in, screen print
A series of black light posters that I think of as global warming agitprop. The posters employ a deliberately ambiguous language to describe an unstable present. Their dark messages are set against a phosphorescent backdrop, suggesting an ominous, reality-altering event on the horizon.
