Awavena, a Virtual Reality work by Emmy and AACTA award-winning artist and director Lynette Wallworth, is coming to Australia on 16 November 2018. This will be its Australian premiere, held at Carriageworks, in Redfern, Sydney.
A free public exhibition of the work will follow from 17 November until 9 December 2018. The Virtual Reality piece has just screened at the Venice International Film Festival, receiving global acclaim.
Awavena is coming to Carriageworks as part of Create NSW’s 360 Vision VR and AR Industry Event. The second in a series of VR works by Lynette Wallworth and producer Nicole Newnham, Awavena was made because of a request from the Brazilian Amazonian Yawanawa people.
The work is about a massive metamorphosis, telling the story of Hushahu, the first woman shaman of the Yawanawa.
It is about the tribe’s realisation that the future strength of the Yawanawa people relied on power being shared with women. The film’s director, Wallworth, is recognised as an international leader in new and emerging technologies.
She was invited to the Amazon by Tashka Yawanawa, chief of the Yawanawa people, after he saw her previous VR film Collisions. Awavena first premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and screened at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
For the Venice International Film Festival, Wallworth developed a walk-through extension to the work called The Blessing Space, which will be included at Carriageworks.
Lynette Wallworth said, “Awavena is a true story with all the power of myth.”
Awavena is a mixed reality work that uses the Vive Pro headset to create transitions from augmented to virtual reality and head tracking in the headset to respond to the viewer’s gaze. The VR piece includes a free-roam experience of the Yawanawa forest where voice and breath are used to activate cloud particles.
Fluorescent imagery in Awavena was filmed from specimens found in the forest by Wallworth’s long-time scientific collaborator Dr Anya Salih. Create NSW’s Executive Director, Elizabeth W. Scott, said, “It is a thrill and an honour to be able to support Lynette Wallworth’s visionary work and present Awavena part of our 360 Vision industry event.
“Lynette is a true pioneer in the world of VR and a constant innovator in pushing creative boundaries and finding ways to connect powerfully with audiences.”
Carriageworks Director Lisa Havilah said, “Lynette Wallworth is an acclaimed Australian artist that has had extraordinary success internationally.
“Carriageworks is excited to be presenting the Australian premiere of her new work Awavena in partnership with Create NSW.
“Lynette’s work beautifully reflects the connections between people and the natural world while always reminding us of our fragile state.”
Awavena will be presented at Carriageworks from November 17 – December 9, 2018. Visitors should arrange their visit in advance through Eventbrite to arrange an allocated time ticket.
For more information visit: www.awavenavr.com
