Thursday November 6, 6-9pm: esc to leave: games by droqen + live demos

Friday November 7, 6-9pm: esc to leave: games by droqen pop-up arcade open (First Friday)

$10 suggested donation/pay-what-you-can/members free [tickets/RSVP]

VSW will host a two-night pop-up arcade with droqen (Alexander Clair Tseu Martin), a Toronto-based experimental video games artist. droqen’s work often takes the form of the 2D platformer, mixing action, puzzles, performance, and poetry to interrogate games and play. This interactive installation of games from across droqen’s career will be fully playable, and the artist will be present. On Thursday November 6, the arcade will be open from 6-9pm, with a live demo/artist talk with droqen and VSW Assistant Curator nilson carroll at 8pm. For folks who can’t make it on Thursday or want more time to play in the arcade, esc to leave will also be open on Friday November 7 (First Friday), 6-9pm.

About the Artist

droqen makes tiny videogames that function like poetry, specializing in 2D platformers rendered in 10×10 pixel art, with vibey chiptune music made in beepbox and impeccable gamefeel and level design. droqen’s game Starseed Pilgrim was an IGF Excellence in Design Finalist, and an IndieCade Nominee, in 2013. droqen is also a three-time GDC speaker, and has spoken at many indie game events in Toronto. droqen is a champion of “kill gameplay,” a call to action against standardization and staleness in mainstream and indie games.