Persistence of Memory in Second Life

Second Life is a wonderful place, created entirely from the imagination and creativity of its residents. This blog is about sharing places I find interesting, entertaining, educational, or simply awe-inspiring. It will range from vast, long-standing builds to tiny pop-ups that vanish after a weekend.

Somewhere within that wide scope sits Persistence of Memory.

A Surrealist Relic in the Oldest Region

In the heart of Da Boom — the very first Second Life region, created in 2002 and long regarded as the centre of the grid at coordinates 1000/1000 — stands a 3D rendition of Salvador Dalí’s Persistence of Memory.

Easily overlooked, this small installation was created in 2008 by Voodoo Shilton, originally for the Primtings Museum. Built entirely in sculpted prims, it recreates Dalí’s melting clocks in interactive 3D form. Visitors can even click the piece and become part of it — “melting” over a tree branch, which makes for a fun photo opportunity.

“For me the melting watches are a metaphor for the relativity of time and space… The artwork as a dream allegory combines new understandings of the universe with the mystical personal experience of the individual.”
— Voodoo Shilton

Persistence of Memory – Two Copies, Two Histories

Voodoo Shilton notes in his profile that the artwork now resides at Voodoo Instruments in Nopsaebaram, where another copy can still be found. Both locations are worth a visit, however there’s something especially fitting about encountering it in Da Boom, a region steeped in Second Life’s earliest history.

📍 Visit in Da Boom: SLurl
📍 Visit at Voodoo Instruments: [SLurl]

A Place to Return To

Da Boom itself has more curiosities and reminders of Second Life’s early days. I hope to return soon and write more about what survives in this historic heart of the grid.

A ramshackle tower at Da Boom - Second Life
Da Boom the very first region in Second Life

Exploring Second Life

If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog, Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.

Join us in the Second Life Destinations Facebook Group, where bloggers share new finds.
Photographers: post your snapshots in the Second Life Destinations Flickr Group.


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