Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley and Serpentine Arts Technologies unveil THE DELUSION

This autumn, Serpentine North will host THE DELUSION, a groundbreaking commission by artist and game designer Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley. Produced in collaboration with Serpentine Arts Technologies, the project will run from September 30th, 2025 to January 18th, 2026, transforming the gallery into an immersive environment that fuses gaming, theatre, and critical dialogue.

An immersive art installation that confronts division

At the heart of THE DELUSION lies an immersive art installation that invites visitors into a speculative post-apocalyptic future. In this imagined world, society has fractured into rigid factions following a catastrophic event known as the Day of Division. Through a blend of satire, absurd humour, and participatory performance, the work challenges audiences to confront pressing themes of polarisation, censorship, and social connection.

The installation incorporates set design, horror-inspired visuals, and symbolic motifs to envelop participants in a fully realised environment. Sound, sculpture, and game-inspired interaction come together to push the boundaries of what an exhibition can be.

Cooperative gaming as live community play

Central to the project is the use of cooperative gaming. Visitors engage in new multiplayer video games that function as live “community plays,” turning the gallery into a theatrical space where dialogue becomes as essential as gameplay. Rather than focusing solely on entertainment, the games are designed to provoke reflection, prompt discussion, and encourage reconnection in real time.

Brathwaite-Shirley has described the work as a “human engine,” shifting the emphasis from what happens inside the game to what emerges in conversation among participants. In this sense, the project redefines gaming as a civic and artistic tool, using interactivity to bridge divides and challenge assumptions.

Serpentine Arts Technologies and their collaboration with Brathwaite-Shirley

THE DELUSION is the most ambitious chapter in Serpentine’s ongoing partnership with Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley. Serpentine Arts Technologies, a pioneering department within the institution, has consistently explored how emerging digital tools and game engines can expand the possibilities of art. Their previous collaborations with the artist include experimental gaming projects that merged activism, storytelling, and community-led design.

This latest commission continues that trajectory, drawing on both advanced and “obsolete” technologies—such as the open-source UPBGE engine—to probe the creative and civic potential of video games. By situating the project within Serpentine’s broader commitment to technological R&D, the commission reinforces the institution’s role as a leader in developing new artistic forms that resonate with urgent cultural debates.

With THE DELUSION, Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley and Serpentine Arts Technologies invite audiences to step into a fractured future—only to rediscover, through play and dialogue, the shared possibilities of connection in the present.

Be prepared for this thought-provoking experience and join us for our conversation with Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, who delves into archiving the Black Trans experience, balancing truth with fiction, and redefining performance through technology.