I am  very  pleased to have some of my sculptural work  shown as  part of the Transmogrify group  show  at the beinArt Gallery in Melbourne  opening on the 25th of June. 

Transmogrify, a three person exhibition of oil paintings, watercolours & sculptures that reconstruct and subvert the human form. Transmogrify features Ben Howe’s hyper-realistic, yet reductive oil paintings, Jake Hempson’s sculptural explorations of figures and bone and Tim Molloy’s psychedelic apocalyptic watercolour paintings and sculptures.

From the  the beinArt  gallery bio/blurb : "Jake Hempson (Australia) is a Zimbabwean born multi­disciplinary artist, specialising in sculptural works based on the natural forms of bones as a memento vita, which hark back to a post colonial childhood in Africa. His digital practice is firmly supported by traditional techniques merged with photos of bones which are incorporated into the final piece. During the translation of found objects into digital artwork there are sometimes errors in the capturing and conversion process. Jake finds these captured imperfections fascinating, suggesting they reveal the true nature of the object in its new medium and are important in giving each artwork a sense of authenticity which can then be shaped by the hand of the artist. Jake explains, ‘the works are an exploration of memento vita (memento of life).­ It’s a way to re-experience my childhood fascination with the remains of life. I want to evangelise the beauty of bones, without its associations with the macabre. When I first started my explorations of these forms I initially mislabelled my work memento mori, but through my practice I have realised that my explorations of bones are not a fascination with death, but a fascination with what is the structure of life, as bones hold us together, they are the most resilient structures of us.’­"

My work will be a  collection of older and new work,of which this showing will be  good way to explore where I move  forward with my tactile non augmented  sculptural works. I'm feeling pretty chuffed about the  whole  thing, organising molds and cleaning up castings for the show. The castings  will be  released as  a  limited  run (final run numbers  yet to be decided).

Lots still to do

The final works were put together over the last 3 days of the residency and reworked and  massaged up until the April30th, launch at GLOW consisting of;
Welcome
At the front of The Arts Centre; this whimsical and humorous work introduces the UnSeenGC trail. Inspired by works from the Gallery’s recent exhibition, Made in QLD: Ode to the Souvenir, this artwork is constructed of found objects from the Gold Coast's recent history.
eCubed
Inspired in colour and form by Geoffrey Ricardos’ work Longer Truths, Longer Lies, this artwork consisting of multiple three dimensional cubes, when viewed from various angles is at once, obvious in shape and totally abstracted.
Bridge
Looking towards the proposed Chevron Island bridge site; a series of floating mangrove seeds form a bridge-like structure. In the past mangrove trees indicated shallower waters and good crossing points for the traveller.
Seeing Surfers
Looking east from the peninsular; this spinning form montages flora and fauna of Evandale park - the texture of local bark and resident birds such as curlews, currawongs, lorikeets and crows, with elements from the Surfers Paradise skyline.
SWIM
Situated over Evandale lake; this artwork merges tidal water, fish and swimmers to pay tribute to the lake and its surrounds frequented by fishermen, picnicking families, joggers, swimmers and stand up paddlers.
Future(s?)
Looking towards the new precinct location; these dual geodesic spheres form an embryonic shape which builds on the voronoi pattern found in plant cells and hints at the birth of a new future. This artwork is inspired by architectural visions of the future Cultural Precinct.

I have still loads for me  to learn regarding the PORPoise side of things (admin system and coding management side of things for  layar) and seeing how  much further the app layar app and AR medium can be  pushed. 

Overall I'm happy with the final AR(t) pieces in the way they looked. Reflecting on the site during the residency definitely affected the outcomes of the works, was a  stressful but ultimately satisfying experience and process in the  end.

I will  post my conclusions and  reflections on the residency and GLOW launch night tomorrow,  for now enjoy the gallery below  of the six  AR(t) pieces (or even  better get down to the Gold Coast Arts Precinct and see them for yourself).

I had a busy day working  through ideas on pieces,now I have bit more of an understanding of the site and the GC (Gold Coast). After  my bought  of  insomnia  last night a heavy rain and some thunder did  come through in at about 4AM.

 I got  up  around  six  went down  to  the  beach -  to onshore blown  out conditions and rumbling from the storm-so I didn't  bother  with a  surf  but went  out  for a fun little body surf  (Why am I telling  you this as artist in residence-  well  for  me  that's always been  a big  part of  my  experience  on  the GC and  it  always  has  been -  the  surf - the  sea). The  beach was  empty the  sea  was a  lovely  aquamarine,  even  with  rain  and  choppy water and  the water  was lovely and warm. It was  pretty  quiet not as  many runners and  beach  goers I  don't  think GC  folk like the  rain, but for  me  it was perfect  body surfing during a thunderstorm - much appreciated  by my melancholic  aesthetic.
​
On site I went back to my marker sketches/drawing  and conceptual  ramblings.
Yes I still  draw  on  paper !!!!
Why one  might ask - Firstly its familiar (its my first medium of expression), its  fun and  also I often need to take a break from the digital  medium/tools that I use, (part a health and safety thing - in my  commercial practice I have a  50  hour a week average so repetitive strain  injury can be a concern). But mostly I work on paper because its not a  precious medium, it allows me to rough out ideas unconstrained/unconcerned with the final result.
  
Anyway I can  go  on about  the  irony  of  working as a  a sculptor  in a  non tactile  medium -  but I will leave  that for another  post. I managed  to  get some initial sketches and  ideas  out for  the  following tentatively titled  pieces:

Structure 01/Welcome:
- An  introduction to AR to the site near the main  foyer. A whimsical ( humorous) mandala /abstracted  shape constructed  from  found art  souvenirs of  the  Gold coasts more recent history (based  off  of  the  collection from made in QLD - Ode to the souvenir)
Longer Truths site (Name yet to be decided):
- Cubist inspired abstracted piece, colours  and  textural elements  inspired by Longer  Truths - multiple  cubes  floating  in 3d space  form an obvious  shape/object (to be decided)  when viewed from  a particular angle and  a totally abstract  shape when  viewed from another.
Bridge:
- Overlooking the  channel towards  the site  of  proposed bridge towards Chevron island consisting of  floating  mangrove seeds - found  art elements a re-interpretation of a bridge like structure -see sketch on the  blog (first and second  image).
See surfers  (Name yet to be decided):
- Looking out to the east from the  peninsular a spinning abstracted mandala of natural elements  sourced from flora at  Evandale park.
Lake:
 - A fauna based/inspired AR  piece situated over Evandale lake, consisting of a  merging of water shapes, eels and swimmers (to possibly then spin on an  axis?) 
Future(s?):
- Looking towards where the future precinct will be situated. A collection of abstract patterns and  colours based off of the current architectural visions for the  future  precinct and additional found  elements on site.

Since I arrived I have  been testing the AR on site  using  previously published data and a test cube with my face textured  onto  it - (Oh the  vanity of  artists - hey I never said  it was a  pretty benchmark - but it serves its function).
 Anyway I  have  been  placing  the test AR POIS (Points of interest) on site  trying  to  iron  out any technical issues. On this I have been supported by Warren Armstrong the originator and curator of (Un)seen Sculptures.
​
​Warren has also set up the  admin server which  hosts the layar l3d model files and textures. I will go into a technical process post later on this week.

Late  yesterday afternoon I took a whole  heap of site photos to be  incorporated into the final AR(t) pieces and  I was sent a while  heap of  imagery  of cultural artifacts from the GC which I will be  incorporating into the  welcome AR(t)  piece.
The photography went well, (shot in overcast evening  light, just perfect for capturing  textures), I took  some detailed close  up  of  the  plants  in  the  park -  I still need  additional images  of  the  mangroves seeds.
In  the process I watched  curlews feeding, heard the shouty Lorikeets and got some  pretty decent shots  of a juvenile Magpie (head pecky  parents came to mind whilst shooting).

Late night/early modeling, started with working on working on modeling the geometry on the Bridge AR(t) piece - its still early stages but it should evoke the feeling of past/future that I hope to convey. 
I have been getting up  at 4 AM to work on my digital practice. I am trying  to  force myself  to keep more  of  regular sleeping pattern and this seems  to  be as  close as I can get lately -  6 hours seems to be all my body  will allow  me  of  late - so I am waking up early and going to bed relatively early (yeah I know I need  to sort  this  out and get a longer sleep cycle in).

Its early  morning,  my documentation hour - 5:45 AM,  time for  me to finish up and get on with  the day - maybe a  beach walk  before work?.

A busy day working through updates to the AR(t) as well as introducing layar to the volunteer guides at the Gold Coast arts center.
As I see AR, specifically phone based AR as a WINDOW  into an unseen world. A layer  on top/under/outside  of  our reality, not a replacement only an augmentation of  that view/reality, (reality is what we make it).
​
AR Art :
AR in art opens the possibility of multidimensional experiences and interpretations of reality. Augmenting people, objects, and landscapes is becoming an art form in itself.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality

-dLux is a for-purpose organisation with over 30 years experience in engaging the public through art, technology and ideas.  The organisation supports artists working with emerging technologies in creating new ways to engage communities and in showcasing the best of media arts practice though the development of touring exhibitions and a programs of educational workshops and stand out community events.
​
http://www.dlux.org.au/cms/
http://www.dlux.org.au/cms/dTour/un-seen-sculptures.html

Layar App:
Is a browser which makes use of the following on  your phone:
Accelerometer
Built-in camera
Compass
GPS

These are used together to identify the user’s location and field of view. From the geographical position, the various forms of data are laid over the camera view like inserting an additional layer.

1. Using your smartphone or tablet, download the free LAYAR App from iTunes or Google store.
2. Open the app, open the menu, go to Geo Layers > Search Layers and search for UnSeen GC 
3. Click the icon on the right of the screen, >Filters, >Range then adjust your slider to the maximum range of 1.0 kilometers.
4. Follow the map built into  the app and use your device to discover the sculptures in the exhibition!

https://www.layar.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layar 

Additional misc Layar examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzLS6wbg4xo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJkzdbg4zho
https://www.layar.com/news/blog/tags/art/
​

GLOW -  30 April launch day.
The six  AR(t) pieces  to  go  up  for  launch day on  Saturday the  30th of  April (coinciding with GLOW ) titled as  follows (more documentation and  images  to come post launch day):

Welcome:
An  introduction to AR to the site near the main  foyer. A whimsical  humorous) mandala/abstracted  shape constructed  from found art souvenirs of  the  Gold Coast's more recent history. Inspired by the recent collection at Arts Centre Gold Coast, Made in QLD: Ode to the Souvenir.

eCubed:
Cube based abstracted piece, colours and forms inspired by Geoffrey Ricardos’ Longer Truths, consisting of multiple cubes  floating  in 3D space forming an obvious shape from a particular angle and a totally abstracted shape when viewed from another.

Bridge:
Overlooking the channel towards the site of proposed bridge towards Chevron island, this  piece consists of a series of floating mangrove seed inspired shapes, a re-interpretation of a bridge-like structure.  Also Mangrove trees in  times past would have indicated shallower waters and crossing points.

Seeing surfers:
Looking out to the east from the peninsular a spinning abstracted piece based off of natural elements sourced from flora at Evandale park and  the architectural skyline of Surfers Paradise .

SWIM:
Situated over Evandale lake, A fauna and  recreation inspired piece consisting of a merging of water shapes, fish and swimmers.

Future(s?):
Looking towards where the future precinct will be situated. Dual geodesic spheres forming an embryonic shape, patterned on the architectural visions of the future precinct, the combining of voronoi shapes found in plant cells.
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Will continue  this  post tomorrow -  kind of  lost my steam

Well there you go, working and  playing  with technology - the usual happened, technical  issues (blah...the non -creative  issues). 

Initially in the  project I was having trouble viewing  my  AR(t) in  the layer AR viewer. The phone could  "see" the  pieces, but I certainly couldn't see them  through my phone. It turns  out it was a sizing issue. My object size & scaling factor were both defaulting to 0, which made the object invisible. Side fact - it turns out the l3d model converter  doesn't actually store a scale value  for the layar object, all the scale, position and gps settings are only managed through the SQL admin site.

So onto today's amusing  screenshots of errors-  (I can't help documenting/disclosing this - blame my game dev background I have  to show  my uglies as well as my pretties).

The  pieces being put together during this  residency are a collection of memories, past present and future, with a sense of geometric presence
I worked  on two pieces; Bridge_  and eCubed as well as fleshing out the visuals and a narrative behind the six pieces, (these are very much artistic sketches and  by  no means represent the final works or final title of the piece).

Proposed positions  of AR(t) (not recommended viewing positions)
Poi 01 : -28.001311, 153.416108
Poi 02 : -28.000915, 153.416231
Poi 03 : -27.999649, 153.417415
Poi 04 : -28.001217, 153.421389
Poi 05 : -28.001006, 153.418216
Poi 06 : -28.001547, 153.417709

Its going to be interesting to see  how people re-capture these pieces on their phones/3G tablets. How they re-interpret them through how they frame the AR(t) pieces. I imagine people will  be taking selfies with  the pieces that interest them and  trying to re-frame the  work into the  viewers personal  context.
The  phone  for  me  is  a  portal onto the work  but a portal on can  re-frame and  manipulate  by  moving  the camera   or  by  inserting oneself  into  the shot.
The  AR(t) pieces  are not self  occluding and can be seen  from multiple  viewpoints and not just where I  place  the  GPS markers.
And I still have  to  finalize  the AR(t) pieces individual scales, positions add  rotations and positional  offsets. Loads  more to do.

Its 2 AM Tuesday  morning after my first day  of  residency. I am wide awake  after  falling asleep, exhausted  from the  first day and I am now mulling over how to approach the  six  pieces I will be doing for  the residency.
In the distance can smell and see  a storm out over  the sea between  the  high rises. Sheet lighting flashes  in the distance.
The  view  gives  me a  good  indication  of life  here on  the GC, life  from  the  low  rises looking up at the highs and  how  its changing ( growing up/maturing). In  the  distance I can hear  the flying foxes  doing their usual  shouting and arguing of  who  gets what piece  of fruit and  then behind  that  the occasional siren. I am off  the  beaten track as I'm currently staying on Chevron island  for the residency, so very close  to  the  Gold Coast  cultural  precinct, (immersing myself in the space/site).

Anyway to the task at hand, which is the development  of  six  augmented reality sculpture  installations as  part of UnSeen GC. UnSeen GC came about from  my  involvement in UnSeen Sculptures back in 2011, This exhibition was initiated and  curated  by Warren Armstrong and is  now under  the wing of Dlux Media Arts, for  more  information please visit the respective sites:
http://www.unseensculptures.com/
​http://www.dlux.org.au/cms/dTour/un-seen-sculptures.html

I have  been commissioned  to  create six  new AR pieces to  be situated  along  the current sculpture walk at the Gold  Coast Cultural Precinct. The sculpture  garden where the AR(t) - (Augmented  reality artworks) will  be situated is a mixed use space, frequented  by fishermen, picnicking families, joggers, exercise park users, swimmers and stand up paddlers. Currently some  of  the physical sculptures at Evandale Park are being repaired and moved. The there is  going to be some major  re -works and building going on as part of the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct greater  plan and these  AR(t) pieces are a part of that  forward  looking  plan.

The site  itself is  interesting space  surrounded  by water (The  gold  coast  has a  lot of waterways - most beach  goers are not even aware of just  how  much the waterways dominate  the  landscape). In the center of the sculpture  walk  is an enclosed  lake (popular with  swimmers  and  local eels) where a water thenmed   AR(t) piece will be  going. Additionally  one of the sites for an AR(t) piece  was once an access  point from the mangroves  to the  coast and the whole area was a meeting  point for indigenous Australians in this area.

The  pieces (working titles/rough concepts) will be  situated as  follows: 
Structure 01. - An  introduction AR to the site near the main  foyer.
Longer Truths. - Situated withing  view of Geoffrey Ricardos painted  copper elephant.
Future Bridge. - Overlooking the  channel towards  the site  of  proposed bridge towards Chevron island
See surfers. - Looking out to the east from the  peninsular
Lake "one'. A  piece  situated  over  Evandale lake
Future(s?). Looking towards where the future precinct will be situated.

Today I also met with key staff including Gallery director as well as Cultural precinct transition manager Anna Carrol
Anyway its now  4 AM -  going to  bed and  will post  this  in  the  morning  first  thing.