King Kapisi opens Digital Art Live exhibition Mata Mata 2.0

Are you ready to do battle?

Mata Mata 2.0
By Vaimaila Urale and Rangituhia Hollis in collaboration with Taura Greig
A Digital Art Live exhibition

Part of Matariki Festival 2014

Mata Mata 2.0 is a new interactive project created by the artists Vaimaila Urale and Rangituhia Hollis and programmed by the developer Taura Greig. Their work sees a virtual performer responding to audience members coming into proximity to the digital screen. It could be said that there is a transfer of energy between the viewer and the performer, where the viewers' presence has an instant impact on the dancer as he comes to life.

The artists have taken their inspiration from competitive game play, dance and battle traditions of Maori and Pacific Island cultures. Their collaboration has produced an interactive work that engages the audience in a responsive exchange using themes of conflict and confrontation. The artwork features contemporary dancer and choreographer, Jack Gray, who has created a series of improvised dance movements influenced by his knowledge of both contemporary and customary indigenous dance.

Opening on 23 July, the work will celebrate the Samoan and Maori spirit of the exhibition by welcoming performers DJ King Kapisi, Samoan Siva dancer Vaimaila Baker and Kapa haka group Te Tai Tonga – who will perform at the opening event.

Exploring the intersection of art and technology, Digital Art Live is a collaboration between Colab/AUT University and Auckland Live and invites audiences to interact with an interactive screen and become part of a new generation of Art.

Digital Art Live is the only permanent interactive exhibition space of its kind in New Zealand. The screen is situated on Level 2 of the Aotea Centre - the perfect location to invite people to engage with the performance possibilities of digital art and help bring art to life. Audience participation is necessary to complete the art work. We invite audiences to come down and play.

The Artists

Rangituhia Hollis has a Master of Fine Arts (Hons) from Elam School of Art at the University of Auckland, and is currently a Teacher of Digital Technologies at Manurewa High school.

Vaimaila Urale is a visual artist with a strong focus to collaborative and interactive art projects. She works across a wide spectrum of media, including installation, video, performance, and digital art. She has a Bachelor of Visual Arts (AUT).

Taura J Greig is a recent graduated AUT Bachelor of Creative Technology student. From a strong interest in game design and development, his awareness and interest in digital interaction has expanded and broadened and he is now especially focus on interactive digital arts. He showcased his interactive work Hungry Pixels during the exhibition Emerging Pixels #3 at Digital Art Live in December 2013.

Mata Mata 2.0
Level 2, Aotea Centre
Wednesday 23 July – Monday 8 September 2014*
Free
Monday to Friday 7.30am to 6pm*
*Digital Art Live will remain open late and during weekends if there is a show in the Aotea Centre.

Contact for more information
Digital Art Live Programme Developer: nolwennl@aucklandlive.co.nz

ENDS

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