THE DELUSION
A video game commission, multiplayer immersive exhibition and online game from Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley that explores themes of polarisation, censorship and social connection.
EXHIBITION: THE DELUSION
30 September 2025 – 18 January 2026An immersive installation exploring the real-world impacts of societal division.
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THE DELUSION combines satire and absurd humour with cooperative gaming and participatory theatre to explore the real-world impacts of societal division. Artist and game designer Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley invites visitors into a post-apocalyptic world shaped by a single catastrophic event—the Day of Division. In this imagined future, society has broken into closed, dogmatic factions, each clinging to its own version of truth, community, and survival. Conceived as a “live community play” and meeting space, the project aims to rehumanise debates and provide a space for players to pause, discuss and reconnect.
Commissioned and produced by Serpentine Arts Technologies, this is Brathwaite-Shirley’s most ambitious work to date — featuring a new series of video games and works developed collaboratively over the course of the past year with a team of artists, researchers, technologists and members of Danielle’s Black Trans and Queer community.
GAME: I DIDNT REALISE YOU THOUGHT LIKE THAT
May 2026 – OngoingAn online game by Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley exploring polarisation through critical play.
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Available for the first time on digital platforms, this game release extends the project’s reach, providing access to Brathwaite-Shirley’s vision of art as infrastructure for civic dialogue and creating more opportunities for online and expanded audiences to engage with urgent questions. I DIDNT REALISE YOU THOUGHT LIKE THAT is a living archive and will continue to grow with new characters and conversations gathered from workshops, focus groups, and other community initiatives. Players meet a unique cast of characters, experience different viewpoints, and reach bespoke endings based on their choices.
This game marks the next chapter of THE DELUSION, a multiplayer video game project addressing polarisation and societal rifts, presented at Serpentine North from September 2025 to January 2026. I DIDNT REALISE YOU THOUGHT LIKE THAT was developed in collaboration with Beyond Code Collective, dedicated to expanding access to technological literacy and tools for future technologists and learners of all backgrounds, and made possible by Glass Castle Foundation.
Important information
I DIDNT REALISE YOU THOUGHT LIKE THAT is intended for mature audiences. It contains strong language and adult themes. Parental guidance is advised.
CREDITS: THE EXHIBITION - THE DELUSION
Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley: THE DELUSION is curated and led by Tamar Clarke-Brown, Arts Technologies Curator, with Ruth Waters, Arts Technologies Producer, and Vi Trinh, Assistant Arts Technologies Curator, with additional support from Liz Stumpf, Assistant Exhibitions Curator.
Research and development by Serpentine Arts Technologies (led by Kay Watson, Head of Arts Technologies) and the Future Art Ecosystems initiative (led by Victoria Ivanova, R&D Strategic Lead and Tommie Introna, R&D Producer).
Conceptualised, animated, developed and directed by Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley
Technical Direction, Game & Controller Design by Vincent Moulinet
Game Development & Engine Integration by Leo Auersperg-Castell
Game Development & Network Programming by Florian Brückner
Game Mechanics Consultancy by Leo Auersperg, Florian Brückner, Vincent Moulinet
Writers Room led by Travis Alabanza, with Tatenda Shamiso and Shaznay Martin
Game Narrative Design by Brooke Maggs
Controller Engineering by Ivaylo Getov
Controller Fabrication by The White Wall Company
Game Music Composition by Loraine James
Cutscene Music Composition by Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley
Sound Design by Guillaume Tiger
Sound Assistance by Lea Van Hall
Animation Assistant Harriet Blend
Voice Actors Madison Moore, Robin Rutenberg and Catharine Cary
Assistant Directors: Valerie-Malin Schmid and Hildegard Alina Oehler
Movement Direction by Malik Nashad Sharpe
In-Game Costume Design by Shayne Oliver Group: Anonymous Club
Featuring/Archived: Bolanle Tajudeen, Harold Offeh, Ain Bailey, Rabz Lansiquot, Helen Starr
Photography by Stefano Venturi
Focus Group Casting by Orlando Robinson
Focus Group Consultant Therapist: Melanie Brown
Focus Group Participants:
Kiera Coward-Deyell (Mellowdramatics), Faissal El-Malak, Chloe Filani, Jerry Flynn, Fossilfreedom, Adam Huizomitl, Rosie Latchford, Kumbirai Makumbe, Asha Mitra, Naomi Notice, Nadine Nour el Din, Sola Olulode, Spiros Philippas, Joel Simpson, Sarah Sheehan, Gabriella Spencer-Hope, Bolanle Tajudeen, Starr Thomas, and Rosa-Johan Uddoh
Research and Advisory Support from Julia Ebner, Meghna Jayanth, Christopher Summerfield, Dr Stephen Reicher, Celia Hodent and Alan Resnick.
Katie Baynes, Alex Boyes, Melanie Brown, V Buckenham, Cami, Kieran Clarke, Jonathan Coryn, Mélanie Courtinat, John Cruwys, Joel Dent, Geeana De Silva, Jemma Egan, Faissal El-Malak, Lou Fauroux, Cloe Ferguson, Joshua Ferguson, Andrea Gillespie, Declan Gilsenan, Lisa Gray, Sarah Hamed, Alex Harrison, Lea Hérbeth, Nicole Kaiser, Mara Karagianna, Jamie Kodera, Bettina Korek, Rosie Latchford, Kieran Long, Tadeo Lopez-Sendon, Hannah Lord, Annette Mees, Asha Mitra, Yannis Mohand Briki, Nick Murray, Naomi Notice, Nadine Nour el Din, Sola Olulode, Ilena Pegan, Spiros Philippas, Xavier Pillai, Josie Proud, Jamie Reid, Rebecca Ribichini, Derek Richards, Joana Schliemann, Suneil Setiya, Xin Song, Winnie Soon, Florie Souday, Rhiannon Stanford, Yaku Stapleton, Helen Starr, Mia Stern, Symoné, Tabitha Thorlu-Bangura, Alex Thorp, Gucci Warlock, Ella Wilks-Harper, and Jamie Young
Exhibition Production by Honor Bailey-Rosse, with Richard Install, Head of Production and Alice Houghton, Registrar.
Exhibition Design by Lydia Chan represented by New School Represents
Lighting Design by Rob Prouse
Lighting Installation by Steve Wald
Photography by Hugo Glendinning
AV provided by ADi
Exhibition Build by Beyond Surface
Technicians: Charlotte Buckler, Isabel Pina Ferreira, Giacomo Layet, Rolo, Anthony Sylvester and Kenji Takahashi
THE SAFE ROOM library is curated in collaboration with Reference Point.
Exhibition Interpretation designed by Kees de Klein.
Exhibition Publication designed by Jamie Reid Studio and published by Serpentine and Archive Books. Edited by Tamar Clarke-Brown and Cairo Clarke.
Project documentary directed by Yasser Abubeker and produced by Partizan.
Public Gallery, Princess Chance, Goethe-Institut London, Calum Knight, Kunstraum, Southby Productions, Lugh O’Neill, Clément Thibault, Igal Nassima.
CREDITS: THE GAME - I DIDNT REALISE YOU THOUGHT LIKE THAT
I DIDNT REALISE YOU THOUGHT LIKE THAT is commissioned and produced by Serpentine Arts Technologies, led by Kay Watson, Head of Arts Technologies. This project is curated and led by Tamar Clarke-Brown, Curator, Arts Technologies, with Isobel Peyton Jones, Arts Technologies Producer and Vi Trinh, Arts Technologies Assistant Curator.
Lead Artist and concept development: Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley
Commissioned and produced by Serpentine Arts Technologies
Developed in collaboration with Beyond Code Collective
Made possible by Glass Castle Foundation
Developer: Fonz Morris (Beyond Code Collective)
Executive Director (Beyond Code Collective): Mica Le John
Curator: Tamar Clarke-Brown (Serpentine Arts Technologies)
Producer: Isobel Peyton Jones (Serpentine Arts Technologies)
Assistant Curator: Vi Trinh (Serpentine Arts Technologies)
