PROGRAM 
Colonies of psychedelic virtual toads have sprung up at sites in regional centres throughout Southern NSW & Victoria. The toads are invisible to the naked eye, but if a person with an iPhone, Android or Nokia smartphone (and an app called the Layar Reality Browser) visits the site of a colony, they can see these toads in all their glory through the camera on their phone.
Why is such a bizarre occurrence taking place? Because the toads are colonising between the Sydney and Melbourne showings of (Un)seen Sculptures, an exhibition of 3D virtual art by Australian and international artists that has infiltrated the real world via the free mobile phone Layar app.
The Layar Reality Browser gives 3D virtual artworks a geographical location in the real world, and uses a technique called augmented reality to enable people at that location to see the works on their phones as if they were superimposed on the surrounding environment. They can then view the works from any angle, walk around them, and even interact with them. (NB: The app will only work on iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, Android or recent Nokia smartphones.)
The toads are part of a work called Sex and Death Bufo Colony by US artist Will Pappenheimer, which originally debuted at the Museum of Modern Art in New York as part of the We AR in MOMA exhibition in October 2010. This initiative is the brain child of Sydney based AR artist Warren Armstrong and is supported by d/Lux Media Arts.
Read more: Psychedelic Virtual Toads Invade Regional NSW & Victoria
Play, learn & discover
Sydney’s China Heart
Download the app
& take the tour. Its FREE
www.chinaheart.org.au
China Heart is an interactive love story and mystery that uses your iPhone, art installation and performance to explore Sydney's Chinatown.
A love story, a puzzle and a challenge
Lian is a young woman whose plans to marry are stalled when she receives a mysterious engagement present with a strange message. Will she ever be able to marry her beloved David?
Help Lian solve the puzzle of her family’s past and her cultural history — guided by dramatic clues, oral histories and historic re-enactments downloaded on your own mobile phone or viewed via mobile web — so her wedding can take place as planned.
Experience a side of Sydney you’ve never seen before.
With a story by Annette Shun Wah, China Heart is an innovative game for iphones, mobile web and web. Meshing video, real-world art installations and performance with content in your phone, China Heart will take you on a walking tour of significant locations in Sydney’s Chinatown.
Start solving the clues at the Powerhouse Museum, learning about the history of Chinese Australians from the 19th century to now as you unravel the mystery. The story culminates at the Chinese Garden of Friendship* in Darling Harbour with a stunning performance of a romantic scene featuring Chinese opera singers.
Read more: CHINA HEART (Chinese New Year 30 Jan to 13 Feb 2011)
d/Lux/Mobile, an initiative of dLux MediaArts, launched in July 2009 with Razorhurst at the East Village Hotel in Darlinghurst.
"Darlinghurst in the 1920s and 30s was ground zero in a gang war over illegal alcohol, known as sly grog. Some of the most terrifying criminals in Australian history rioted with cut-throat Razors earning the zone the infamous title Razorhurst. Now the dark world of Razorhurst is resurrected as an exciting game using GPS."
Larry Writer, author of the popular book Razor officially opened the event by setting the scene with tales of Razorhursts dark past.
Martial Arts weapons specialist Ray Floro followed with an eye popping demonstration of flashy cut throat razor moves concluding with a real slasher attack on an unsuspecting leg of lamb.
From left: Larry Writer, Ray Floro and Richard Fox. Image courtesy of Patrick Neu
To support the launch of dLux Mobile and Razorhurst, dLux MediaArts ran a Forum and Masterclass providing an overview of the creative and technical aspects of producing original digital media content for GPS enabled smart phones. We saw GPS enabled devices as a significant emerging media platform, capable of delivering rich screen content including video, audio and animation to a broad audience base.
Ghostgarden takes you on a surreal journey through the Royal Botanic Gardens. This 21st century GPS technology will take you back to the 1800s, when Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens were a zoo and parklands, in this tale of Jack and Lucy and their impossible love.
Using the worldwide Global Positioning System (GPS) and pocket PC’s, Anita Fontaine’s cinematic tale unravels as you wander the Royal Botanic Gardens' paths and gardens. Collect your GPS device from the Ghostgarden kiosk, and embark on the Ghostgarden tale in this beautiful and evocative setting.
Ghostgarden was presented as part of the Sydney Festival 2008, at the Botanic Gardens, Sydney, 5 January to 28 January 2008.
images courtesy of Anita Fontaine