A multiplayer online game in which everyone plays a deer. There is no violence, no chat, no missions and no competition: people play with each other creatively, without words, in an idyllic forest full of magical surprises — ancient ruins, artifacts, and the chance to meet the forest gods.
Launched 10 September 2005 as a free download for Windows that also runs as a screensaver. Originally commissioned by MUDAM, Musée d'Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean, Luxembourg, and developed in phases through further commissions (Artefact festival / STUK, Leuven; Broelmuseum, Kortrijk; RASA). Abiogenesis, in which the artists changed the forest live while people played, was performed at Museo Tamayo, Mexico City, Vooruit, Ghent and MoCA Shanghai. The forest ran for more than ten years and gathered some 170,000 registered players.
Designed, built and directed by Auriea Harvey and Michaël Samyn, with animation by Laura Raines Smith, music by Gerry De Mol and concept art by Lina Kusaite.