Animate

“Animate” transforms a climate-fiction short story into an immersive performance that combines elements of a radio play and installation and allows the audience to play an active role. Inspired by the disquieting atmosphere of such films as Antonioni’s “Red Desert” and Tarkovski’s “Stalker”, the project “Animate” tells the story of two Canadian climate refugees fleeing from floods, heat waves and socio-economic crisis on their trek through the province of Newfoundland. Using AR, sound and haptic vibrations to intensify the experience, audience members can feel the dramatic emotions of the two protagonists in their own bodies. Audio-visual memories of the world that existed before these massive climate changes serve to dramaturgically prepare the viewers for the journey’s climax when they themselves become a part of a dramatic transformation. In the barren expanse of the Canadian Tablelands, nature consumes them. The geographic location of the setting is based on the belief of the indigenous people of Canada in nature’s animated spirit and the interconnectedness of humans and nature.

The project’s artistic director is the American-Canadian media artist Chris Salter, who is collaborating with the Klanglabor Berlin, MONOM/4-D Sound and other international artists. The producer of the project, the Kunstfest Weimar, is also cooperating with several partners who share a common interest in combining AR technology with socially relevant issues.

Artistic director: Christopher Salter
Artists/project participants: Remco Schuurbiers, Sam Slater, William Russell/MONOM, Florence To, Kate Story, Angelique Wilkie, Timothy Thomasson, Silke Schmidt/Hub XR Bavaria

Festival: Kunstfest Weimar, Weimar: 25 Aug. 2022 – 4 Jul. 2023; MUTEK.JP, Tokyo: 5–11 Dec. 2022; Napoli Teatro Festival, Naples: 19–26 Jun. 2023; MUTEK.CA, Montreal: 28 Aug. – 4 Sep. 2023; Dark Mofo, Hobart: 14–23 Jun.2024