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The Digital Surrogates opening was a very successful event, and attracted a whole new crowd to the gallery. There are few events relating to the digital arts in South Africa and this lack of attention highlights the importance of this particular show.

Tegan Bristo opened the exhibition by introducing the work of all three artists, and explaining their relationship to Second Life, the digital self and important questions relating to identity. Five portraits by Eva and Franco Mattes stretched along the gallery (these Italian artists created the five portraits from avatars featured the digital programme Second Life). The opposite wall featured work by Pippa Stalker, and Bronwyn Millar. Two films by Millar were shown on large screens on the back wall; one relating to her avatar ‘perfect bronwyn’ (her alter-ego on Second Life), and the other, an animation of her series of self-portraits.

Spirit, a real-life avatar, also attended the event. She attended in full costume and was re-created on Second Life during the exhibition. The gallery space will also feature on Second Life allowing the exhibition to reach an international audience.

Keywords: Art Gallery, Arts-and-Culture, avatars, bronwyn-millar, digital-surrogates, dkprojects, Eva-Mattes, event, Exhibition, Franco-Mattes