This video decoration was commisioned by Creative Industries Precinct for the 'Level Up' festival in October 2007. The brief was to provide continuous video displays for the 3 day period based upon a carnival theme. It was understood that there'd be a darker undertone to the images.

I was not satisfied with the 'carnie' theme alone as it has been covered adequately and neglects some 'shadows' of the CIP. This artificial suburb (Kelvin Grove) has no history, yet folds into a history of utopian science and art epitomised by the World Trade Fair or Exposition. At these, there is a core architecture of clean, futuristic science and progress, surrounded by a fun fair of madness and disorder. To my mind these opposites are the domain of Bacchus - the old god of divine madness, theatre - but also civilisation. It is his paradox that I wanted to address here, while satisfying the commercial brief.

To learn that Brisbane hosted a World Expo in 1988, which smothered an entire region of the city and brought order to 'the Arts' confirmed that all the portents were aligned - the display would be correct for the venue.

I decided on a three screen display as one enforces a story, two invites comparison, but three offers choice.

Screen A showed THE CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS a long procession of 3D rendered rollercoasters and rides, each named after a section of text used at a World Trade Fair (in the day) or a psychological term (at night). Screen B showed THE CITY OF TOMORROW - a place where all things "modern" were celebrated. Screen C showed GEHENNA LAND which included all the nasty and twisted things that live (and die) in fun fairs.

Opening segment from disc B - The City of Tomorrow.
(3D render, objects designed by Billy Home et al.)