Galup VR Experience. Photo by Marnie Richardson. 

Galup VR Experience will screen as part of XR:WA – an experiential and thought-provoking conference and exhibition for VR and AR industry professionals, artists, businesses and the wider general public.

Galup VR Experience invites WA Museum Boola Bardip visitors on a special virtual tour of an iconic Perth wetland to share an important history obscured for nearly 200 years.

A short virtual reality film, Galup VR Experience is set at Lake Monger, a beautiful location in the heart of suburban Perth enjoyed each day by hundreds of people unaware of its hidden history as the site of the killing of Noongar people in 1830.

Galup VR Experience fuses cutting-edge technology with ancient oral history and storytelling traditions to highlight how past injustices continue to echo today. Viewers will personally experience an almost invisible truth in a familiar place and come to understand this history as their own.

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Aboriginal and Torres Islander audience members are advised that this production includes names, images and voices of people who have passed away. Names, images and voices are used with permission.

Created by Noongar theatre-maker Ian Wilkes and artist/filmmaker Poppy van Oorde-Grainger with an oral history from Elder Doolann-Leisha Eatts, the immersive short film is based on their sold-out lakeside performance Galup at the 2021 Perth Festival. Production of both the performance and film has been guided by a team of supportive Noongar Elders.

Designed to explore the opportunity and possibility of digital screen technology, the major conference and subsequent workshops, speaking events, and interactive experiences at XR:WA aim to discuss the impact and opportunities for VR, AR and digital-screen technologies across a number of industries including science and academia, art and entertainment, architecture and design, education and training and medicine and research.

Event activities are divided into four distinct concurrent elements that are designed to engage attendees, promote discussion, and allow for professional networking:

1 (Sept 17 and 18)
A 3-day program of talks and experiences showcasing local and internationally produced VR and AR works.

2 (Sept 17 and 18)
A 3-day Academic Conference designed to enhance critical discussion and debate amongst VR and AR industry colleagues.

3 (Sept 18 & 19)
A 3-day Trade Floor and Exhibition allowing visitors to engage with local, national and international companies, organisations, campuses and screen artists.

Having welcomed over 5,000 attendees and 91 speakers in it’s inaugural year, XR:WA is back for a third edition with an even more diverse program planned for 2022.

XR:WA will run 15-18 September. Details here.

Free public screenings of Galup VR Experience run between 10.30am-5pm on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th at WA Museum. Details here.

The XR:WA Galup VR Experience talk will be held at WA Museum 11.30am this Saturday. Details here.