At PICA we recognise that we are situated within the unceded lands of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation. We pay our respects and offer our gratitude to Elders past and present, and to those emerging leaders in the community. We acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the importance of their care and continued connection to culture, community and Country.

Always was, always will be.

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Art in XR: Creating Immersive Worlds

Art in XR: Creating Immersive Worlds

Art in XR Seminar

PICA presents an afternoon of discussion and networking for fans of XR, artists, creatives, technical experts and developers interested in applying to be involved in the PICA Hackathon program over August and September. Seminar participants will hear from Producer and Chair of Immerse Australia Natalie Marinho and Founder of Frame Labs Justin McArdle about their work on the 2021 Bootcamp and Hackathon with PICA as well as the exciting projects they’ve worked on since.

As leaders in the field, they will share their insights into the future of immersive arts. Accompanied by 2021 Hackathon alumni and Forrest Foundation Creative Fellow Elham Eshraghian, and Noongar theatre-maker, dancer and performer Ian Wilkes, the speakers will reflect on the ways in which XR technologies can be harnessed by artists wanting to create empathetic, immersive and eye-opening experiences.

About the Artist

Natalie Marinho – Lead Producer, Voyant Augmented Reality

Natalie is a Designer, Producer and Artist working in Augmented Reality (AR). She is Founder of Voyant Augmented Reality, a Fremantle-based studio creating bespoke AR experiences for social impact projects and creative industries. She believes that immersive technologies represents the next major shift in human computer interaction and is particularly interested in how AR can be used to enhance user experience and develop new modes of political and artistic expression. With a diverse background including digital content, gamification, and international aid, Natalie is a regular speaker and panelist on technology, games and augmented reality. She is Chair of Immerse Australia and a committee member of DesignFreo. She holds a Bachelor of Science and a Masters in International Relations.

Justin McArdle – XR Bootcamp Facilitator, Co-Founder of Frame Labs

An award-winning Executive Producer, Creative Director and thought leader in Virtual Reality, Justin has extensive experience creating and delivering over 50 VR & AR projects via his XR company Frame Labs.
Frame Labs clients have included PICA, Museum of Western Australia, Murdoch University, SBS TV and the Woodside Rock Art Foundation. Recent highlights of creative work includes working with Indigenous Director Tyson Mowarin and acclaimed VR artist Stuart Campbell on the ground-breaking virtual reality experience of Dreamtime stories, Thalu as well as an immersive installation with award winning contemporary dance company Co3: Dance.

Elham Eshraghian

Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson is an Iranian-Australian researcher and video artist. Her arena of work centres itself within communal and collaborative social practice. Her research navigates inherited stories and post-memory felt by displaced communities through the poetics of the moving image. She invites viewers to become the ‘witness’ rather than the ‘passive bystander’, examining empathy in film-poems, and immersive multi-media experiences facilitating a critical discussion surrounding empathy, custodianship, compassion, and social change.

Ian Wilkes

Ian Wilkes is a Noongar man with connection to the Wadjuk and Balladong people. He is a past graduate of Aboriginal Theatre at WAAPA and now a theatre-maker, performer and director. Current credits include co-creator and lead performer in Galup VR experience and co-director of the 2022 Perth Festival event Noongar Wonderland. In 2021 Ian was artistic associate for WAYTCO’s Beside, and co-director of York for Black Swan Theatre. Also, in 2021, Ian won the Perth NAIDOC award for Artist of the Year and is currently working as an associate artist with Perth Festival.

He has directed several plays including Yirra Yaakin’s Boodjar Kaatijin, Hobo and Songbird for the Blueroom Theatre and has helped devise and create many others. He has performed numerous roles including in Yirra Yaakin’s Hecate, and Honey Spot at the Sydney Opera House. Ian is also a regular performer in the long running WA show Binjareb Pinjarra. Performances in dance include Ochre’s Kwongan for Perth Festival and CO3’s The Line.  Amongst Ian’s career he also teaches traditional and contemporary dance to the younger generation by combining his knowledge of culture, theatre and performance.

Supporters

This project has been supported by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries through a Sector Development Grant.



Image: Daniel Grant