Explore the immersive world of virtual reality, augmented reality and gaming at the annual XR:WA free Conference and Expo 15-18 September at the Perth Cultural Centre.
Now in its fourth year, this major conference and public exhibition showcases the ideas, works, technology and constantly evolving environment of the VR, AR and digital screen industry across four days at multiple locations including the WA Museum Boola Bardip, PICA, Scitech Planetarium and State Library of WA.
The unique programme is unlike any other screen-based conference in Australia and is designed to engage attendees, promote discussion, and allow for professional networking. And best of all, everything is completely free.
One can expect talks and experiences showcasing local and internationally produced VR and AR works, keynote speakers delving into the immersive and digital screen-based forms of art, entertainment, education and training, science and research, and business as well as an Academic Conference designed to enhance critical discussion and debate among VR and AR industry colleagues.
XR:WA also includes a three-day Trade Floor and Exhibition allowing visitors to engage with local, national and international companies, organisations, campuses and screen artists.
The enormously popular Games and Experience Emporium at the WA Museum Boola Bardip’s Hackett Hall encourages exploration of virtual reality and augmented reality technology and features over 30 VR experiences, over 40 computer games, over 20 AR experiences as well as industry talks.
Programme highlights include –
SUTU
The works of artist Stuart Campbell will be exhibited as part of the Games and Experience Emporium at Hackett Hall. An artist who creates immersive cutting-edge art combining AR and VR techniques to bring together a cyberpunk/comic world of graffiti and tech and everything in between, SUTU has worked with the likes of Google, Disney and Marvel.
Path 99
A full spectrum audio-visual experience of a continent’s shifting weather systems, Path 99 is a film designed for full dome planetarium projection and will be screened at Scitech on Friday 16 September, 7.30pm. A unique combination of art, science and earth from multimedia artist-com-geoscientist Grayson Cooke, the film shows us how now – more than ever – it is crucial that we all have our heads in the clouds.
State Library of WA VR Commissions
Created by Viewport VR, commissioned by XR:WA and the Revelation Perth International Film Festival and based on elements from the State Library of WA’s collection, two VR projects will be launched as part of this year’s Exhibition;
Perth – Modulated – A City in Flux – with a key focus on buildings and points of significance or interest in Noongar Boodja, this short film covers the changing architectural landscape over the past century, and
El Caballo Blanco – History at your fingertips – lifting the lid on one of Perth’s most unique architectural and social icons, the abandoned El Caballo theme park.
Talks
Across the three-day Trade Floor and Exhibition, talks and discussions at XR:WA will tackle areas examining the current funding and financing environment, utilising the strength of scientific collaborations in VR, using games for protest and advocacy, the state of play in the local sector, games and VR in medicine and international distribution for VR.
PICA Hackathon
PICA will present six new locally developed works by Perth-based artists that have been created over a 4-day Hackathon event held as part of their partnership with Frame Labs and Immerse Australia. These works present exciting visions of artists working in AR, VR and 360 video for the first time and explore a range of ideas from native flora of the southwest, experiments with shadows, online adult content creators and the religious and spiritual power of talismans.
Screen Australia + Screenwest Roundtables
XR:WA is pleased to host a visit from Screen Australia’s Games Investment Manager, Amelia Laughlan, as well as representatives from Screenwest. Roundtables will examine relevant local and national strategies in the games and immersive sector across art, entertainment and documentary outputs.
After-hours networking experiences will be held at the Alex Hotel.
XR:WA is designed to inspire a new generation of creatives and business to explore the world of possibilities in VR, AR, Immersive technology and gaming.
Check out the programme at the XR:WA website.
