Aquatopia
DDM221 Final Year Exhibition (Kancil Awards Winner)
Aquatopia is a digital media exhibition that highlights critical issues affecting marine life. Through various projects, it explores the challenges our oceans face, such as pollution and the protection of sea creatures. The event aims to raise awareness and encourage visitors to think about how they can contribute to making a difference.
From 13 to 27 September 2024, Dasein Digital Media students from batch DDM221 presented the Aquatopia exhibition, merging art and technology to highlight crucial environmental concerns related to SDG 14: Life Below Water. The exhibit drew attention to the issues of jellyfish overpopulation and the detrimental effects of cigarette butt pollution on marine ecosystems, offering the audience a chance to engage with these themes through interactive and immersive experiences.
full event recap video
The launch event on 13 September 2024 featured MareCet, an NGO dedicated to marine conservation in Malaysia. MareCet’s participation enhanced the exhibition, promoting greater awareness and understanding of the importance of sustainable practices to protect our oceans.
What made the exhibition especially engaging was its use of interactive storytelling and digital tools. Technologies such as Unity, Arduino, and motion sensors were used to create immersive experiences, allowing users to make choices, trigger animations, and see the consequences of their actions in real time. This hands-on approach helped communicate the urgency of climate issues in a way that feels personal and accessible.
Behind the Scene video
Let’s Explore the Project
Individual Works by the Artists
1. Loh Wai Xin
Project 1: Interactive Website – Jellyfish Blooms
This website aimed to raise awareness about jellyfish overpopulation, focusing on how global warming and deforestation contribute to the issue. Through interactive visuals and informative content, users explored the dangers posed by unchecked jellyfish populations and learned how these challenges threaten the balance of marine ecosystems. The seamless browsing experience encouraged visitors to engage with the topic by leaving feedback through integrated forms.
Website Design & Development Showcase
Project 2: Interactive Installation – Watt’s A Jellyfish
This installation symbolised the delicate relationship between human actions and environmental preservation. Visitors were invited to interact with lamps that lit up LED-decorated jellyfish models, representing efforts to conserve the beauty of these creatures. Some jellyfish installations vanished into the darkness, illustrating how neglect and excessive consumption could disrupt marine ecosystems.
Project 3: 3D Anamorphic Animation – Burn to Bloom
This 30-second 3D motion design and animation uses naked-eye 3D technology to vividly illustrate how deforestation triggers global warming, causing rising ocean temperatures and jellyfish overpopulation. The anamorphic effect creates a visually immersive experience, drawing the audience into the interconnected nature of these environmental challenges.
2. Lau Chewvy
Project 1: 2D Animation – Buds Planet
This animation focused on the harm caused by cigarette butt pollution to marine environments. The engaging narrative illustrated how cigarette butts travel from urban areas to oceans, demonstrating the significant impact these small items can have on marine ecosystems. The project encouraged viewers to adopt responsible disposal practices by showing the cumulative harm caused by carelessness.
Project 2: Interactive Installation – Bud Stream
This installation provided an immersive, hands-on learning experience. Participants explored different scenarios to see how improperly discarded cigarette butts harm the ocean. By interacting with the installation, visitors gained a deeper understanding of the consequences of pollution and were encouraged to change their behaviour towards responsible disposal. This experiential approach fostered empathy and reinforced the need for environmental responsibility.
sponsorship
A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors for their invaluable support, which made this exhibition possible and successful. Your generosity has greatly contributed to our students’ achievements.
