Can Virtual Be Genuine?

Introduction

Welcome to the Verbier Festival TALKS — opening the conversation on virtual authenticity in the arts.

Setting the Stage: Art, VR and AI

Framing the central questions at the intersection of art, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence.

A New Era for Artistic Experience

How immersive technologies are transforming the way audiences experience and engage with art.

Virtually Genuine vs. Virtual Worlds

The core philosophical tension — can something virtual be genuinely authentic?

Authenticity, Presence and Perception

Exploring how VR reshapes our sense of presence and what it means for artistic authenticity.

AI and Creative Expression

The role of artificial intelligence in creative processes — tool, collaborator, or threat?

The Human Dimension of Immersive Media

Why the human element remains essential even as technology becomes more sophisticated.

Classical Music in Virtual Space

The Virtual Hall experience — bringing symphonic performances into VR while preserving their soul.

Challenges for Artists and Cultural Institutions

Practical and philosophical challenges that artists and institutions face when adopting immersive technologies.

Open Discussion

Audience questions and open exchange on the future of art, technology, and human expression.

Concluding Perspectives

Final reflections on the path forward — bridging the virtual and the genuine.

End

Closing of the session at the Pavillon des Combins, Verbier.