Immersive video app

The Brief.

Every two years the Biennale comes to Sydney to showcase some truly unique and enchanting large format artworks by artists from around the world. The City of Sydney commissioned Canadian artists Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller to produce an immersive video “art-walk” as part of the exhibition, to become one of the city’s four legacy artworks.

Being that the art work would be highly location and time specific, the final piece of the puzzle was to create a mobile app that could house the experience in a time and geo-locked format, allowing it to be viewed only in the Rocks vicinity, during the hours between dusk and dawn. The Biennale and City of Sydney enlisted Code and Visual to work with the artists and production team to produce the app for mobile devices.

iOS & Android
Geo & time locking
HD video playback
Custom video controller
Cross platform code base
Full development and submission service

The Solution.

We used our cross platform code framework to build both the iOS and Android apps for the price of one, or close to it.

The apps shared a single code base which allowed us to rapidly develop, test and deploy for the bulk of all mobile users at once. This avoided the need for two separate and costly development efforts, had we developed natively.

A custom UI system afforded the artists complete control over the user experience to realise their specific vision for the project.

Using our extensive test suite and an army of volunteers, we ensured compatibility across the vast majority of devices, especially concerning the GPS location and time locking functionalities.

Journey Path

The Outcome.

A high profile launch at Customs House with the Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, kicked off the Biennale in great fashion and was a highlight of the festival.

The app is now part of the permanent collection at Customs House in Circular Quay where visitors can hire a mobile device and take themselves on the immersive experience.

The City of Forking Paths is part tour guide, part time capsule and completely engrossing as it takes you through a dream-like narrative set within the backdrop of the Rocks and it's surrounds.

As part of the legacy artworks program it will remain a fixture in the city's cultural collection.