Chief Scientist of Western Australia Graces 3D Art & Machinima Event

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                                         Professor Lyn Beazley, Chief Scientist of Western Australia                      Photo Credit: Adia Yu

Professor Lyn Beazley, Chief Scientist of Western Australia, was guest speaker of honour at a special viewing event at the University of Western Australia showing off the winners of the UWA Centenary 3D Art Challenge & MachinimUWA V: Seek Wisdom.

Speaking of how important 3D virtual technologies were becoming across all industries from the arts to the sciences, Professor Beazley praised the efforts of the University of Western Australia in creating a global hub for such activities.

Commenting on the winners, Professor Beazley said, "I was hugely impressed by the standard and thought-provoking nature of the award winning films. They opened my eyes to the beauty and impact this interaction between science and art is achieving. Long may such creativity flourish!" 

The audience were taken for a live viewing session within Second Life, and viewed the UWA Centenary Special prizes for both 3D Art & Machinima as well as the top prize winners.

 Lollito Larkham's  L'histoire de Petit-Gris            Photo Credit: Eliza Wierwight

The UWA Centenary 3D Art challenge saw an international field of 90 artworks by 91 artists from around the world. Parisian, Lollito Larkham's  L'histoire de Petit-Gris (The story of Petit-Gris), soared above all, with his thoughts reaching across the universe, to claim the L$100,000 1st Prize. The Cathedral of Thoughts, by PaleIllusion (Germany) took the UWA Centenary Special Prize as well as joint-3rd Prize overall, winning L$95,000 in all. The 2nd overall prize (L$75K) was won by the only joint entry with the Tyrehl Byk (USA) & Ultraviolet Alter (France) creation, 'To Be the Wind' taking the prize. Titans of Second Life art, Glyph Graves and Bryn Oh shared the 3rd Prize (L$35K) with 'Reflections in Diversity' and 'Cerulean'. A delighted Lollito commented, "It's an honnor for me,  I wish to thank the UWA team, all the generous donors and the jury. It was a great challenge, and I'm happy this 'micro story' can touch so much people. Thanks again ! I'm out of voice, I could not imagine to be the winner. In this piece I tried to concentrate on many things : Humor, philosophy, and societal questions about the place we give to 'aliens' or 'strangers'. Kinda like looking into a mirror." 
                                Tutsy Navarathna's 'The Last Syllable of Recorded Time'

With MachinimUWA V: Seek Wisdom, the double defending champion, Tutsy Navarathna, a Frenchman based in Pondicherry, India, made it a stunning 3-peat (L$140,000), with 'The Last Syllable of Recorded Time', pulling ahead of a very strong field of 51 machinima including the Costa Rica-Germany collaboration of Karima Hoisan and Natascha Randt, whose work 'Seek Wisdom' pipped a fast finishing quartet including Hypatia Pickens (Four Gods of Folly), pallina60 Loon (Colours), Tikaf Viper (>RUN Ram) and Arrow Inglewood (?). The UWA Special Prize, for the film that best captures the essence or spirit of 100 years of seeking wisdom at UWA was joint as well, with Pyewacket Bellman &Soda Lemondrop sharing L$100,000 with their works, both entitled 'Seek Wisdom'. Said Tutsy, "A thousand thanks to all of you who enjoy my films and have supported me. And, again, thank you to UWA, and to the Jury. I would also like to give a big thank you to Midimal, the soundtrack's composer, who has personally authorised me to use his work in my films. Thanks also to DOL for the beautiful installation "Daytime Dreams" where I filmed."

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