VIDEO might have killed the radio star, but it has also diversified the arts scene, with Mount Gambier about to launch a festival dedicated to innovative artworks created using video technology.
The Riddoch Art Gallery will host the inaugural International Limestone Coast Video Art Festival from September 29 to October 21, exhibiting works by 35 Australian and international video artists.
Based on the theme The Lived Body, the festival focuses on art projects that reveal the human relationship with technology and nature, demonstrating the complexity of contemporary life and how technology is used to respond to challenges in the 21st century.
“The program is divided between an open call selection and a curated selection and includes an exhibition, symposium, screenings, workshops and VJ performance that will stimulate, reveal and surprise,” gallery director Dr Melentie Pandilovski said.
“We also believe that it will contribute to the understanding of the importance of media culture globally and video as the most ubiquitous offshoot of media culture today.”
A formal opening will be held September 28 at 6pm with the announcement of the $3000 open call entrant prize and a special performance by VJ Sustenance.
“Twenty works from 12 countries were selected from more than 100 works submitted to the open call,” Dr Melentie said.
“The projects test the limits of video art and include ideas around dialectics of the machine, remix culture, children and resistance, meditation on absence/presence and much more.
“The festival selection panel is especially pleased to announce the video artwork Identity by Caroline Hammat from Millicent will be included in the exhibition, as well as the screening of video works produced by high school students in Mount Gambier.”
On September 29 the symposium Video-Body In The New Millennium will explore cross issues of art, culture and new technology between 1pm and 3pm at the Main Corner Dress Circle.
“We are excited to be hosting a number of international artists during the festival who will be presenting their practice and work during the symposium,” Dr Pandilovski said.
“It is a rare opportunity to hear from established artists from around the world in our own backyard.”
People interested in learning the basic concepts involved in creating interactive content are encouraged to attend a two day workshop Introduction to Virtual Reality Authoring Using Unreal Engine with Vladimir Todorovic on September 29 and 30 between 10am and 1pm on the Kings Floor at the Main Corner.
“Participants will work in teams to construct virtual reality spaces capable of responding to movement,” Dr Pandilovski explained.
“After designing and testing the architecture on a flat screen, we will work on optimising it for virtual reality.”
A digital storytelling workshop will be held in conjunction with the Media Resource Centre on October 6 and 7 between 10am and 3pm at the Riddoch Art Gallery.
“Digital stories are short, personal multimedia tales told from the heart,” Dr Pandilovski said.
“Participants will be led through the process step by step with the guidance of a filmmaker.”
