Vanitas

Vanitas

An artwork for smartphones and cemeteries.

Nominees like Robert Walton and Jason Maling (Vanitas) are setting the standard for innovation and creativity on the Internet. It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the over 13,000 entries we received this year.
–  Claire Graves, Executive Director of The Webby Awards

Chapter One

Hidden in plain sight at the centre of a 300 year old painting lurks a mysterious void that promises oblivion to those who stare too intently. Download Vanitas now to inspect the evidence for yourself, listen to the experts and judge two friends as they try to make sense of the past with traces of the present.

Vanitas mixes podcast-style listening with beautiful visual materials to create an experience that is part documentary, part fantasy. Just like real life there is no narrator, so it is up to you to pull fact from fiction as the world unfurls before your senses.

Chapter Two

Somewhere near the centre of the cemetery a woman waits with a promise to explain the meaning of a mysterious flower delivery. The trouble is finding her as you pick your way amongst the graves, alone.

Vanitas is an opportunity to spend some time alone in the presence of strangers both living and dead. More than an app, Vanitas stretches from its recorded voices, original composition and images, out into your smartphone, the cemetery around you and into your life.

Role

Concept, Director

Date

2015 –

Category

Directing, Mobile, Film, Installation, Immersion, App

Created for

More posts about Vanitas

Vanitas Nominated for Green Room Awards

The Vanitas Team are delighted to have been nominated for the following Green Room Awards in the CONTEMPORARY AND EXPERIMENTAL PERFORMANCE…

Vanitas at Melbourne Writers Festival and Horizon Festival

Vanitas at Melbourne Writers Festival and Horizon Festival It’s been a busy of couple of weeks with Vanitas being staged...

Pursuit – Vanitas: An App to Die For

An article I worked on with the Pursuit team about Vanitas and our Webby Nomination. If you’re interested in Vanitas,…

Vanitas has been nominated for a Webby – vote now – Precinct

With Vanitas receiving a nomination for the ‘Oscars of the internet’ I was invited to write a piece for Precinct…

Vanitas returns to Melbourne General Cemetery

Southern Melbourne Cemeteries Trust will host Vanitas at Melbourne General Cemetery this 17 & 18 February. For more details and…

Vanitas: an app to die for – Precinct

Article in Precinct 19 July 2017 An app that lets audience members experience Melbourne General Cemetery like never before? Victorian College…

Vanitas at Melbourne General Cemetery

20 & 21 May 2017 The latest edition of Vanitas will get its first public outing at Melbourne General Cemetery…

Vanitas Premieres at Festival of Live Art

2-11 March 2016 Vanitas, my new 'smartphone thriller' launches tonight at the Festival of Live Art at Arts House in...

Digital Theatre: live and mobile – RealTime

Realtime Feature by Malcolm Whittaker