JONATHAN MONAGHAN: From the Gaming Scene to His Own Meta-World
Contemporary artist Jonathan Monaghan, unlike many, played video games not just for their narratives or gameplay but for the immersive experience of the digital universe. Initially, this passion led him to create game worlds that he could explore forever. Nowadays, the artist is genuinely concerned about the rapid pace of technological progress and its environmental impact. Embark on a journey into Jonathan Monaghan's universe as part of our new CIFRA Immersive Series. In this debut edition by Jonathan, creatures from classical myths undergoa metamorphosis influenced by progress. They forsaketheir traditional habitats for server rooms, where symbols of modern technology seamlessly become integrated into their very beings.
Author
Jonathan Monaghan
Bio
Jonathan Monaghan grew up in Rockaway Beach, Queens, New York. As the artist recalls, it was a unique place — a liminal space between the vast expanses of the Atlantic Ocean and the concrete jungles of Manhattan. This environment prompted Jonathan to explore the contradictions between organic and manufactured worlds. Monaghan’s artworks have been featured worldwide, including the Sundance Film Festival and the Palais de Tokyo in Paris. His installations have received critical acclaim from The New York Times, Vogue Italia, and The Washington Post. The animals you'll encounter in this project are inspired by mythical creatures that the legendary Greek hero Heracles had to capture as part of his Twelve Labors. This newly crafted world prompts reflection on the intricate ties between humanity, the environment, and technology. Thus Jonathan Monaghan's creatures embody the collision between ancient myths and technological progress.
Discover all the creatures in Jonathan's CIFRA Immersive meta-world. To start exploring and catch them all, follow these steps:
For a stable connection, use Wi-Fi
Improve your experience by using a desktop and closing any unnecessary open tabs
Enhance audio quality by using headphones
Keep your phone nearby to fully enjoy the AR wonders
"I decided to become an artist because of a deep fascination with the possibilities that technology offers for creative expression. However, my first artistic interests were not traditional painters, sculptors, or even video artists, but video game designers and science fiction movies." — Jonathan Monaghan
The Cretan Bull
In Greek Mythology: The Cretan Bull was a gift from Poseidon to King Minos. Initially intended for sacrifice, King Minos spared it due to its exceptional beauty and strength. In retaliation, Poseidon cursed the bull, unleashing its uncontrollable wildness and aggression, and it caused chaos in Crete. Seeking help, King Minos enlisted Hercules during his Twelve Labors.
In Jonathan Monaghan's "Mythological Menagerie": This mythical bull is reimagined with golden security cameras for eyes. Monaghan's animation explores the bull's symbolic strength, drawing connections to modern fixations on fitness and self-optimization as the animal navigates through a contemporary gym.
Erymanthian Boar
In Greek Mythology: The Erymanthian Boar was renowned for its colossal size, menacing tusks, and fierce nature. Hercules, as part of his Twelve Labors, was tasked with capturing this ferocious boar alive. Navigating the dense Erymanthian forest, Hercules successfully captured the boar, presenting it to King Eurystheus as part of his trials.
In Jonathan Monaghan's "Mythological Menagerie": The artist transforms this ferocious boar with gleaming gold and surveillance cameras for eyes. Monaghan's depiction accentuates the wild spirit and primal instincts of the creature, seamlessly intertwining ancient mythology with an unsettling mining environment.
Cerberus
In Greek Mythology: Cerberus, the legendary Hound of Hades, guards the Underworld, preventing the living from entering and the dead from escaping. Hercules, guided by Hermes and Athena, faces the formidable task of capturing Cerberus. The capture marked one of the most challenging and iconic feats of Hercules' legendary labors.
In Jonathan Monaghan's "Mythological Menagerie": The artist reimagines the guard dog with modern surveillance technology heads, depicting it as a guardian of a deep-learning (AI) server room — a fusion of ancient myth and contemporary tech.
Ceryneian Hind
In Greek Mythology: Hercules faced the challenge of capturing the elusive Ceryneian Hind alive as one of his Twelve Labors. Despite the hind's remarkable speed, Hercules, with wit and determination, succeeded without harm, embodying the hero's triumph over seemingly impossible challenges.
In Jonathan Monaghan's "Mythological Menagerie": The legendary hind with golden antlers is reimagined with a surveillance camera as its head, symbolizing its elusive nature. The animation depicts the animal gracefully navigating a modern fulfillment center, representing the pursuit of beauty and the human quest for the extraordinary.
Spot the Myths: Clues in Harry Potter and Indiana Jones
Hercules, a legendary figure in Greek mythology, has made a lasting impact across various forms of media, from live-action to animated films. His reimagined adventures, explored in movies like Disney's animated Hercules, the mythical universe of Harry Potter, Pabst's silent gem Pandora's Box, and Indiana Jones's quest for a grail, offer distinct interpretations of the ancient tales. In "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," the trio encounters Fluffy, a three-headed dog guarding the path to the Philosopher's Stone, reminiscent of Cerberus from Greek mythology at the entrance to the Underworld. The movie "Pandora's Box" directly taps into the Pandora myth, with the character Lulu embodying Pandora's spirit. Her curiosity leads to tragic consequences, echoing the Pandora myth where opening a box unleashes chaos.
Channel Your Inner Hercules or Create a City Fit for Zeus
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
In the realm of action RPGs, "Assassin's Creed Odyssey" immerses players in ancient Greece, seamlessly weaving the myths of Hercules into its narrative and gameplay. Quests mirroring Hercules' legendary labors, obtaining his iconic gear, and facing mythical creatures he once battled form integral parts of the gaming experience. The game's historical accuracy and iconic locations, like the Sanctuary of Olympia, intricately draw players into the realm of Greek mythology, with Hercules' deeds at its heart. "Assassin's Creed Odyssey" pays homage to Hercules' enduring myth, enabling players to step into his shoes and experience his legendary feats firsthand.
Zeus: Master of Olympus
"Zeus: Master of Olympus", a city-building strategy game by Impressions Games, casts players as city planners serving Zeus, the king of the Greek gods. While existing in the same mythological world as Hercules, the game shifts its focus to city-building and management, steering clear of Hercules' heroic escapades. It delivers an immersive experience within the broader context of ancient Greece, featuring nods to gods, creatures, and locations from Greek mythology.