Child of Now
A Public Art Work of Scale – IN DEVELOPMENT
This is a large project in development which incorporates the use of of innovative scanning techniques, virtual and augmented reality, and performance that will be co-created with contributions from 15000 Victorians. Further details will be released as the project progresses.
The urgent aim of this project is to create a rare and extraordinary moment in the life of Victoria for people to consciously empathize with future generations who will inherit our culture, customs and built environment and face the challenges of climate chaos caused by generations living now. By following the life of a child born in 2022, made up of the contributed faces, dreams and gestures of the current population, it becomes possible to rehearse Victoria’s future in an invested, emotional and human way.
Child of Now is being created in partnership with Arts Centre Melbourne, City of Melbourne, Creative Victoria with knowledge partners University of Melbourne.
We have completed a comprehensive Feasibility Study for Child of Now funded by the partners. We are now working on prototypes of the project.
Open Studio – Creative Development
June 2018 – Arts Centre Melbourne supported by City of Melbourne
Over three days the participants unpacked the research material and concept of Child of Now. Focused discussions on technical feasibility took place at the end of each day to ground speculation and move us closer to a deliverable project.
Participants
- Robert Walton, Lead Artist, Director
- Angharad Wynne-Jones, Head of Participation, Arts Centre Melbourne
- Emma Dodd, Creative Producer, Arts Centre Melbourne
- Mish Grigor, Artist, Co-founder of POST
- Luke McKinnon, Founder and Director, Common State, Communications
- Brad Hammond, Creative Technologist, Emerging Media System Design Expert
- Gendry Morales, Founder and CEO, Flight Plan, Blockchain Expert
- Margie Mahon, Research Innovation and Commercialization, University of Melbourne
- Prof Frank Vetere, Head Microsoft Centre for Social Natural User Interaction
- Dr Alison Bennett, Artist working in expanded photography and digital media
- J Rosenbaum, Contemporary Figurative Artist
One morning the team visited Investment Centre Victoria on Floor 46 of 55 Collins Street. The view of the stretch of the river addressed in Part II was critical in helping the team understand the scale of the project.
Focus Groups
Arts Centre Melbourne and Luke McKinnon director of Common State conducted two focus groups with members of the public about the concept and appeal of Child of Now. One group of 53 year olds and another of 23 year olds worked for 2 hours each on the project concept. The feedback gained from this exercise has informed the shape of the project submitted to this round of the Creative State Commissions.
The use of virtual and augmented reality was appealing to both groups, and particularly appealing was the ability to participate with friends and family in contributing your own image and then being able to see it again in the city. The 53 year olds strongly favoured an innovative project that puts the city and state on the international map in terms of ambition, as well as feeling connected to the idea of adding part of themselves to posterity. The 23 year olds were drawn to the idea of being able to participate with their friends and access the work during the evenings and night.
Comments from Focus Group participants
Being new and different makes the whole idea more appealing. A once in a lifetime chance that may not come again.
53 year old
[Appealing to] use virtual reality to experience time, and being a part of the largest portrait ever to be.
23 year old
Seeing/meeting lots of people born when I was, comparing our life experiences, celebrating a life lived in Melbourne. Being part of a one of a kind, historic event.
53 year old
Very relevant to my demographic: anxiety about the future job aspirations etc.
23 year old
[It is appealing] To be integrally part of something special putting Melbourne in the world spotlight.
53 year old
It seems like a really forward thinking art project which would be appealing to many demographics. Being able to see it on the big screen would be very cool. Multiple locations is great as is by phone.
23 year old
Blast Theory Development
In April and May 2018 Robert Walton was artist in residence at Blast Theory in Brighton UK as part of the Australia Council’s International Residency Program. Blast Theory are the world-leading pioneers of interactive art, asking thorny questions in public spaces. For six weeks Robert developed the concept for Child of Now under the mentorship of the Blast Theory team culminating in the first public presentation of the background research and working concept for the project.
Blast Theory made this short video at the beginning of the residency.
Role
Concept, Director, Lead Artist
Date
2018 –
Category
Public Art, Participation, AR, VR, Motion Capture, Performance, Future
Early Sketches
Images above by Open Studio participants.
Project Partners
