The Tao of Shenn

 Seduced by beauty in opensim, we visited some of the artwork of Shenn Tao, on Atlas grid. Shenn spends a lot of his time traveling in rl so it was an extra special opportunity to meet up with this influential and much loved French artists and to get a few insights into his work. 

Sure, we all know that good art speaks for itself, but that dialogue is always enhanced by a few hints from its maker, and also gives us a chance to thank them for their contribution to the collective cultural heritage of our virtual worlds.

We landed in a delightful garden by one of the signature pavilions of Shenn, and quickly rezzed in so we could all see each other. As always it was nice to see so many of the French community present to support the event, it's always lovely to see solidarity, and Shenn is a well loved figure.

Cherry Manga: happy to see you Shenn, so long time!

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: you are right Cherry... the creation virus is still there

Taarna Welles: Is someone vaping?

Jeff Kelley: yes Taarna

James Atlloud: share the vape

Taarna Welles[fr→en]: the little vaper in France :)

We all arrive on Atlas grid

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: click on the sphere above my head to have automatic translation

Roffellos Kisses: hello everyone

Minord Loup: hello

James Atlloud: The parcel music is lovely if you don't have it on. Music = ambience

Cherry Manga: yep nice ambient stream

Thirza Ember: please remember, the translator can only translate one sentence at a time, so if you use a period, anything written after it will not be translated

James Atlloud: Does the translator deal with hyphens - I do wonder?

Harthelie Atlas: bonsoir tout le monde

Shenn Tao

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: yes the streaming is often very soft, I invite you to activate the music  for better immersion

Thirza Ember: very good looking group!

James Atlloud: aw - tyvm (elvis)

Angelic Kisses: Hope everyone is well :)

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: welcome to everyone

Thirza Ember: thanks Shenn! thanks Atlas for allowing us to visit

The Library

The first place we visited was the Library. Rather than housing actual books, or links to ebooks, this is an attractive teleport hub high in the sky above the Tao Sea, for  navigating the various zones of Shenn's  six regions on Atlas.

Jeff Kelley: What is the origin of these teleport books ?

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: Myst games

James Atlloud: oh

Jeff Kelley: a legendary game

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: yes really beautiful is inspiring

Thirza Ember: it seems one of the fundamental games that inspired Opensim people

Jeff Kelley: Shenn, did you participate in the first Myst-themed regions in OSGrid? A long time ago?

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: Yes, with English friends, we had made several sims... they are on Kitely I think now.

James Atlloud: Myst was an important milestone in virtual experiences.

Vlad.Helsing[fr→en]: I don't know it

The beautifully crafted bookstands that form the teleports to the various parts of Shenn's builds.

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: I'll give you some ideas about Shenn... I'm always inspired by my reading, encounters, travels, and curiosity in all areas. I discovered virtual worlds where I could bring my imaginary explorations to life.  I am very inspired by science fiction and fantasy worlds. I have met many talented people in various fields; some have become friends and have greatly helped me bring my creations to life.  I warmly thank the entire Atlas Grid team for their kindness and help. 

Thirza Ember: how long have you been in Opensim Shenn?

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: for over 10 years, with sometimes interruptions to travel.

James Atlloud: What other virtual worlds did you try?

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: I love traveling and exploring virtual worlds,  I am very curious and I love seeing how other creators explore their imagination

Shenn Tao: Here is the next part, called Rivages, or Shores: A tree village perched on clouds, inhabited by flying plant creatures. Roots grow beneath the clouds. Humanoid creations are planned to populate the village... shores of the sky

Jeff Kelley: very organic

James Atlloud: Lovely

Vlad.Helsing[fr→en]: really nice

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: go under the clouds, you will have surprises... try to fly under the clouds

James Atlloud: very much like Myst

Dings Digital: this is a fantastic big structure

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: during my travels I see plants that I don't know. It’s a great source of inspiration. I hope to bring this village to life one day, with colorful humanoids... I dream of making a beautiful alien coupleto live in this village with overhanging houses

Thirza Ember: this structure is like an iceberg, much more below than above

James Atlloud: hey, I heard a sound from Myst

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: have you found the roots? and the bathroom?  the water is good and pure

Sweety.Eales[fr→en]: oh yes beautiful

James.Atlloud: yes, I fell into the roots by accident.

Jeff Kelley: if I remember well, James, the teleporter sound was extracted from Myst

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: yes the sound comes from there

Thirza Ember: the sounds really complete the sensation of place

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: of course you can come by whenever you want, I couldn't show you everything

Dings Digital: a very inspiring place, and relaxing, just what I needed after this day

Next up was a complete change of atmosphere on neighboring Taolia region. The colors and mood of the visit transitioned n this vibrant yet mystical spot.

Shenn Tao: A journey inside the brain, depicting neuronal activity and thought processes.

Vlad Helsing[fr→en]: Magnificent

Dings Digital: yes, it looks awesome

James Atlloud: wow wow

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: it's time to connect your neurons

Jeff Kelley: my what?

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: and to create a beautiful collective intelligence.... how do we think -  and how to show it in 3 D

Cherry Manga: my favourite of all time from you Shenn

Angelic Kisses: This looks incredible

Dings Digital: I have only a few neurons left today :)

Thirza Ember: My last neuron died of loneliness

Cherry Manga: mine too Thirza

James Atlloud: Yes, may I have some neurons if there are extras?  My poor brain!

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: your ideas are welcome... this is the right place for this

James Atlloud: I like the region name - Taolia

Dings Digital: happy neurons doing their thing

Thirza Ember: Shenn, some of these regions contain older art and some newer, it's so good that you can have so many pieces of your work all available to the public on one grid

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: walk and come back, share your thoughts when you come back... confused thoughts? beautiful thoughts? head in the fog?

Dings Digital: you created wonderful aesthetics here

Vanessa VanHelsing: beautiful thoughts

Vlad Helsing: truly beautiful

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: is your head heavy, like mine is this evening,  with this big globe on my head?

James Atlloud: Photospheres could be like memories here.

Cherry Manga: the build inspires ease, that's good for heavy minds like some can have during those hard times

Jeff Kelley: You all should really do a GTH 3005

Shenn Tao: perdus dans vos pensées ? a friendly thought? creative thinking?

James Atlloud: yes yes

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: it's never over... 10,000 thoughts per day for each of us

Sweety Eales[fr→en]: it's really very beautiful shenn

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: thank you, I love the magic we can create and share

Thirza Ember: what do the golden sparkle balls represent

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: nerve impulses, emerging ideas the thoughts that flow non-stop

Jeff Kelley

Shenn Tao: Let's go to Tonglen: Ground-based creations, natural environments, jungles, and glaciers—let's play with our imaginations…

James.Atlloud: James tries to adjust hover height - lol!

Thirza Ember: wet feet

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: a little freshness, good bath

Vlad Helsing[fr→en]: the water is good here

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: here we are back on my creative spaces with very different landscapes, mesh test

Angelic Kisses: this is lovely

Shenn Tao[fr→en]:  I show you the glaciers, let's go East... enable shared environment if you can

Thirza Ember: shenn I am curious - your creations are so serene - do you never get frustrated with the technology when you're trying to build?

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: come back and take a bath whenever you want, the water is fresh.

James Atlloud: the water should be warm!

James Atlloud: Now I need a towel.

James dries his feet - on lava

Thirza Ember: shenn I am curious - your creations are so serene - do you never get frustrated with the technology when you're trying to build?

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: oula yes!!! it's sometimes a headache to find how to do it... what's in my head... fortunately on Atlas I have valuable help

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: Cherry is not afraid of anything, not even glaciers

James Atlloud: Of course - Cherry ventures anywhere!

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: I invite you to take your time if you come back

Vanessa VanHelsing[fr→en]: ok Shenn, I would come back with pleasure

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: the next exploration will take us back in time, Lost City:  An ancient lost city, rich in color and sacred texts. Another world to explore.

James Atlloud: Oh those towers!

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: inspired by the games Myst and Uru,  always in a spirit of mystery... where books are important

Thirza Ember: these ships are famous across opensim I think

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: you will spend all your time if the heart tells you

Jeff Kelley: I've known this scene for a long time and I never get tired of it.

James Atlloud: oh that is a lovely thought

Vlad.Helsing[fr→en]: it's great

Cherry Manga, Vanessa Van Helsing, Thirza and Vlad Helsing take a load off on Tonglen

There was just time enough to take a seat to enjoy the view, and to admire Cherry's lovely footwear and light outfit. But almost as soon as we sat down, Shenn proposed we moved on to view another part of his extensive estate.

Thirza Ember: lol very comfortable bench!

Cherry Manga: no the time to be lazy

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: we still have another scene to explore, Flying Islands:  A solitary paradise beyond the clouds, beautiful and immersive you will have to walk and explore, when you have time everything is open to the public. I love wide open spaces where thought can travel and where imagination can come to life ... I invite you to explore your imagination,  and create as you feel... our world needs beauty and magic

James.Atlloud: Such beautiful clouds

Thirza Ember: thank you so much Tao for sharing not only your art but also your thoughts

Jeff Kelley: Thank you for this magic

Vanessa VanHelsing[fr→en]: thank you Shenn it’s beautiful

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: thanks to the atlas team, without them, all this would not be here.

Cherry Manga: fabuleux Shenn

Minord Loup: merci Shenn

Sweety Eales[fr→en]: Thank you very much shenn, for sharing this

Thirza Ember: colossal

James Atlloud: yes, good word Thirza...  Thank you Shenn and Atlas grid people.

Shenn Tao[fr→en]: bon voyage, come by whenever you want

Vlad Helsing[fr→en]: have a good evening everyone, thank you for this wonderful visit

Dings Digital: thank you for showing us this wonderful place

Angelic Kisses: this is beautiful, thank you so much...this was a beautiful and peaceful experience.

Shenn Tao: you are welcome any time, you can find all these places by using the teleport hub

General teleport hub for Shenn's regions   hop://atlasgrid.fr:8002/Tao%20sea/130/129/2000