It’s time to take a stand for environmental conservation and ecofriendliness with MeshMinds 2.0: ArtxTechforGood, an upcoming exhibition which will take place at the ArtScience Museum from March 7 to 17, 2019.
Organised by The Meshminds Foundation, this is the second time the interactive exhibition will inspire conservation efforts, through the use of technology, especially Apple products.
Visitors will be able to engage with current environmental and societal challenges through the blending of art and technology, such as taking a journey through the human stomach to follow the trail of microplastic in the water ingested by humans, or holding a stare-off with a person on-screen to take a stand against deforestation.
Here are four exhibits and games that you can look forward to at MeshMinds 2.0:
Sabaism by R. Yashini
Light pollution is a very real phenomenon, and Yashini, who is also an astrophotographer, aims to show that in a more tangible way through her 3D printed art installations.
Yashini took photographs of the Helix Bridge in Singapore, a place known for being very well lit, and another photo of the lonely tree in Punggol Park. She then used computer software, including Photoshop, to illustrate the light captured in the photographs as visible spikes, and then 3D printed them out to be displayed.
According to Yashini, having a clear view of the night sky in all its starry splendour should be a public right, as everyone deserves to be able to see the sight of the milky way. Alas, light pollution blocks out a clear view of the night sky. It can also have adverse effects on the human body, by negatively affecting our sleep cycle.
A Better Tomorrow by André Wee
Through the medium of augmented reality, illustrator and artist Andre Wee aims to showcase his vision for Singapore in the future, or as Wee puts it, SG75. During the MeshMinds 2.0 exhibitions, visitors will be able to interact with seven artworks drawn by Wee, which were then adapted into a series of AR artworks, collectively titled A Better Tomorrow.
Wee hopes to raise awareness for sustainable development for cities and communities through the use of his artworks, by showing glimpses of what he feels is a greener and better future could look like. The use of AR with Wee’s work allows it to not just exist as a piece of art but also a display of technology, and a positive call to action.
To witness Wee’s interactive AR artworks, simply use the iPads provided, or you can use your own phone, and scan the QR code found by the corner of the artwork, to have his drawings come to life. It is that simple.
Water Bodies by Adeline Tan
We take a sip of clean water without any thought of what is in it, but it’s just water, both tap or bottled, so how bad can it be? The thing is that these days, even the bottled water you purchase can come with microscopic pieces of plastic in it. This is the issue that artist Adeline Tan, aka Mightyellow, is hoping to raise awareness for, through her Virtual Reality game, Water Bodies.
Tan first became aware of this topic when she was doing research on animals together with her young son, who was developing an interest in animals and plants. Through her research, she came across an interesting creature called the ‘cyclops’, a common freshwater copepod that has just one eye (hence the name). After further research, Tan found videos of cyclops ingesting tiny beads, which she then realised were tiny pieces of plastic.
In the game Water Bodies, you embark on a journey through the human stomach as you try to destroy pieces of plastic found in the stomach.
Discover Our Ocean by Warrior9 VR
Our Ocean Life, a game created by Warrior9 VR, will be part of the Discover Our Ocean immersive Zone when displayed at the ArtScience Museum. It was made to illustrate the problem of plastic pollution in the seas and oceans, and the danger it poses to wildlife who call the oceans their home.
Conceptualised by Warrior9 VR, Chief Creative Director Abhi Kumar shared that this idea first came about when he went diving a few years ago in an isolated location. While ascending to the surface, they were met with a sea of plastic and he was left questioning where all the plastic came from, especially since they were in the middle of nowhere. Kumar realised after further research that plastic pollution is a serious crisis, and he wanted to do something about it.
Through the use of AR, the game makes you move around to find pieces of plastic dumped into the ocean. Some are obvious and easy to pick while others are a little more hidden. By the end, you are face to face with a dead whale, killed by all the plastic it has ingested, before the game offers you some quick trivia on plastic pollution for you to take away.
MeshMinds 2.0: ArtxTechforGood, takes place at the ArtScience Museum from March 7 to 17, 2019.
Germaine is a fun-sized introvert who loves nothing better than sleeping in on rainy days. She can be found reading fanfiction and manga while still waiting for her Hogwarts acceptance letter. It’ll come eventually.
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