Kyler Shahalami

One Long Trek

When we embark on any kind of physical movement, it’s with a destination in mind. For me, I have always done my best thinking while on my feet, and it’s where most of my ideas come from. I haven’t lived in a profound number of places, nor have I traveled to a long list of distant locations; but I have seen a fair number of people all living a different walk of life from multiple lenses. Bouncing between rural conservative and urban progressive social spheres, making the professional leap from warfighting to artmaking, and going from athletic to crippled, I’ve observed a lot of suffering and change in myself and those who journeyed in parallel with me. However, I’ll never regret the struggles I endured, because it made the joyful parts of life that much more impactful.

When I go on hikes, the pain in my feet and back would stab and ache, but it makes the view from the peak that much more worth it. Although if I were to go on the same hike again, it’d be a completely different experience. The rucksack and boots may be the same, but the thoughts on my mind will always weigh differently. For that reason, I involve myself with interactive game art as my preferred medium - because everyone’s interactions lead to a unique experience.

There are plenty of games exploring the complexities of art, and far too many that undermine the difficulties of war. I find that there are not many that merge their complexities and difficulties to one broad expedition of the human condition. For that reason, I’ve chosen to create a game representing the walk of life that we all endure. The intentions of the game are not to be a showcase of my experiences or a moral high ground perspective. Instead it’s an allegorical celebration of the internal parts that make us human, reflected on the world around us.

YouTube

@kysport14