Some historical events defy representation. They cannot be compared or described because our language and senses are not equipped for them. All Unsaved Progress Will Be Lost approaches this unspeakable subject through the story of a woman who does not leave her home despite an impending disaster. Trapped in an inhospitable environment, she describes her perception of events in a landscape of concrete and fog, where there is no return. The impending doom remains unnamed until the very end, a silence that forces viewers to confront their own fears of possible catastrophes. The work unfolds as a sensory journey that is both oppressive and poetic, raising more questions than answers. After its premiere in the Immersive Selection at the 2022 Venice Biennale, it has been shown at over twenty festivals and exhibitions worldwide and won the Best VR Award at Animafest Zagreb in the same year.
All Unsaved Progress Will be Lost
A VR experience about disaster, memory, and resilience
Some historical events defy representation. They cannot be compared or described because our language and senses are not equipped for them. All Unsaved Progress Will Be Lost approaches this unspeakable subject through the story of a woman who does not leave her home despite an impending disaster. Trapped in an inhospitable environment, she describes her perception of events in a landscape of concrete and fog, where there is no return. The impending doom remains unnamed until the very end, a silence that forces viewers to confront their own fears of possible catastrophes. The work unfolds as a sensory journey that is both oppressive and poetic, raising more questions than answers. After its premiere in the Immersive Selection at the 2022 Venice Biennale, it has been shown at over twenty festivals and exhibitions worldwide and won the Best VR Award at Animafest Zagreb in the same year.
Mélanie Courtinat (b. 1993) is an award-winning artist and art director based in Paris. Her work includes video games, CGI images and films, as well as immersive virtual reality experiences. Her personal works, primarily developed with real-time engines, have been exhibited internationally, from the Venice Immersive Biennale to the LISTE Art Fair Basel. In addition to her artistic practice, she leads commissioned projects for luxury, fashion, and high jewelry brands, guiding them in exploring the language and aesthetics of video games and interactive media. She also collaborates closely with creatives from cultural fields such as cinema, theater, and dance, offering artistic direction and interactive design, and helping to translate each author’s vision into meaningful digital experiences. Mélanie is a regular guest lecturer in video game history and digital humanities at ECAL, and regularly gives talks, mentors, and serves on juries across Europe and North America.