Step Into An Alternative Reality
For the ARG Lab 24, Elise Koncsek opened a portal to the Shazeqi via a hab unit deposited at Quarry Arts Centre, Whangarei. Participants could solve the clues, make contact, and thrive in their culture.
Shazeqi are a community of exoplanetary beings who travel through the universe, sharing their knowledge, encoded for those ready to receive it.
They visited Earth a while ago to deposit a small hab unit in Te Tai Tokerau. Inside it, they hid clues for those of us curious and clever enough to understand their teachings. The hab unit also hints about their physical abilities, work, and interests. After planting their message, they moved on.
The Shazeqi communicate through dreams, travelling along intricate phosphene networks. Through solving hidden puzzles in this interactive experience, those who participated might be messaged in their dreams.
Creative New Zealand funded Elise for this project, with the Awhi Incubator providing mentoring, advice and complementary support.
About Elise
Elise Koncsek is an installation artist living in Whangārei, originally from Seattle, specialising in immersive and interactive art. Drawing from a biology, anthropology, and environmental rejuvenation background, Elise uses a variety of materials and techniques to build new realities.
Elise contributed to the Alternative Reality Gardening 23 symposium and publication
Deep Phosphene was supported by Creative New Zealand with additional support provided by AwhiWorld.
About ARG Lab 24 & Awhi Incubator
This experience was part of the Alternative Reality Gardening Lab – a creative innovation event within the capacity-building Awhi Incubator Project. ARG Lab 24 showcased research conducted by participants and collaborators of the Awhi Incubator during 2023/2024.
Following a successful publication and symposium in 2023, ARG Lab 24 was a transdisciplinary collection of exhibitions, events, performances, workshops, and talks exploring diverse perspectives on place. It occurred across Te Tai Tokerau|Northland from May 17th to the 25th.
Some sessions are designed to build capacity within targeted communities, while others are open to the general public and welcome all interested.
Underpinning the lab are themes of resilience, diversity, sustainability, and an expanded understanding of the concept of ‘place”.
Places today are formed from multiple intelligences, materialities, and lifeforms and are intersected by a rich array of alternative realities and parallel worlds. Flora, fauna, signals, and code entangle, and what is considered real, true, alive, and beautiful is negotiated. The lab explores emerging new types of gardens. What is being cultivated (internally, creatively, physically, spiritually)? What is thriving, and what needs protection? What new lifeforms and materials are emerging, and how do they intersect with what exists now?
ARG Lab 24: TV
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ARG Lab 24: Talk by Dr Candace Loy
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Thanks to the Ministry of Culture and Heritage | Manatū Taonga for funding the Awhi Incubator Project through their Innovation Fund.