Urban Watcher
Related parties
Personal
Year
2021
Field
VR
Production Period
Half Year
Background
The creation of this artwork was drawn from photography and sound, with the purpose of generating awareness regarding the importance of being observant of things that may suddenly disappear from our surroundings. The artwork aims to serve as a reminder to audiences to pay attention to things that may be familiar or ignored, and to cultivate a habit of re-examining the environment around us. This immersive and interactive artwork is designed to encourage audience participation from a first-person perspective, allowing them to explore the artwork. The chosen location was determined based on the distinctive features of the place, local landmarks, historical architecture, and collective memories.
Stage 1 - Field trip
The objective of the field trip is to verify the viability and feasibility of the selected sites. Due to various factors, it is possible that some locations may be altered in the schedule subsequent to the field trip. In such cases, the final schedule shall take precedence in the event of any discrepancy between it and the field trip.
Kowloon
Wong Tai Sin
Route: Wong Tai Sin Temple → Lung Cheung Road → Green Minibus Terminus → Fung Tak Park
Yau Ma Tei
Route: Yau Ma Tei Theatre → Fruit Market → Jade Hawker Bazaar → Temple Street
New Territories
Tai Po
Route: Kwong Fuk Bridge → Fu Shin Street → Tai Po Complex → Grandma's tofu pudding
Tsuen Wan
Route: Tsuen Fung Centre → Man Fung Noodle Shop → Lo Tak Court → Chu Kei
Hong Kong Island
Causeway Bay
Route: Victoria Park → Hennessy Road → Jardine's Crescent → Downward of Canal Road Flyover
Central
Route: Pottinger Street → Tai Kwun → SoHo → Graham Street Market
In addition to conducting the field trip, I have also scheduled three meetings with my advisor, Adam Tam. His insightful suggestions and guidance have been invaluable in inspiring me to delve deeper into research pertaining to imagery and sound. I have documented his feedback in the form of a mind map and notes. During the second meeting, a significant breakthrough was achieved with regards to the technical aspects of the demonstration. The focus of the discussion revolved around enhancing the audience's engagement with the artwork, such that they are not merely passive observers of images on tablets, but instead are fully immersed in the experience. To achieve this, the concept of virtual reality and immersive experience was explored.
How is the demonstration?
Play video or Photo Print? Speaker or Headphones?
Stage 2 - Production
Shooting
In order to execute this project, I have rented several pieces of equipment from the school, namely the RICOH THETA S, Zoom H3-VR Audio Recorder, and 3DVista Virtual Tour. Additionally, some conversations with others were not recorded by the machines, and therefore, I have documented them in written format. For further information, please refer to the website.
Post-Production
In addition to the completion of the initial stage, subsequent phases are equally as crucial. In terms of image processing, retouching has been undertaken, while noise reduction has been performed on the audio. The selected materials will be integrated into the software responsible for creating the virtual tour.
Outcomes
The ultimate result of this project is presented on a tablet and showcased at the SCM exhibit. Additionally, complimentary postcards are being distributed as part of a promotional giveaway.
