UWA SiVA 4.1: UWA 3D Art & Machinima Challenges: Transcending Borders by FreeWee Ling

An exhibition series of original digital art in a virtual world

UWA 3D Art & Machinima Challenges:

Transcending Borders FreeWee Ling, curator

UWA Studies in Virtual Arts | January 2015 | Volume 4, Number 1 ISSN: 2200-7865 (Print)

ISSN: 2200-7873 (Online)

UWA Studies in Virtual Arts January 2015 Volume 4, Number 1 ISSN 2200-7865 (Print) ISSN: 2200-7873 (Online) http://uwainsl.blogspot.com/p/uwa-studies-in-virtual-arts.html Jay Jay Jegathesan (SL pseudonym: JayJay Zifanwe), Project Director, Co-curator D. A. Newton (SL pseudonym: FreeWee Ling), UWA Honorary Research Fellow, Lead Curator, and General Editor Copyright © 2015 by D.A. Newton. All rights to the original works depicted are owned by their respective creators, and images thereof are used in accordance with the terms of entry for the UWA Challenges. Contact: Jay Jay Jegathesan School of Physics The University of Western Australia (M013) 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA 6009 Australia Email: jay.jay@uwa.edu.au UWA Studies in Virtual Arts comprise exhibition catalogues, special editions, and monographs on the arts in virtual worlds. Focus is especially upon the 3D art competitions held at UWA’s virtual campus in Second Life®. Citation Contributors retain intellectual property rights to their material and may re-publish it provided that UWA SiVA is acknowledged as the original place of publication. Material in UWA SiVA may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-profit use for the purposes of education, research, library reference, or stored and/or distributed as a public service by any networked computer. Any commercial use of this journal in whole or in part by any means is strictly prohibited without written permission. Any use of this journal in whole or in part should include customary bibliographic citation. “Second Life®”and “Linden Lab®” are trademarks of Linden Research, Inc. The university of Western Australia and UWA SiVA are not affiliated with or sponsored by Linden Research.

2014 UWA 3D Art & Machinima Challenges: Transcending Borders

Introduction

The 5th UWA Grand 3D Art Challenge

The Winners The Entries Exhibition Catalog

7 8 10

7th UWA International Short Film Challenge (MachinimUWA VII)

The Winners The Entries Screen Shots

186 188 190

Event poster by Eliza Wierwight

Introduction 2014 is the fifth year of 3D virtual art and machinima challenges at the University of Western Australia’s virtual gallery in Second Life® (SL™). Through these competitions UWA in SL has been recognized worldwide as a preeminent venue for the presentation of virtual arts and machinima. This was a rich year for us, with three major art exhibitions and two machinima events. The Freedom Project In March we launched The Freedom Project, an exhibition of 3D and 2D art, machinima, and personal stories by artists with disabilities or chronic illness. The project has garnered praise from many corners and was arguably among the most important exhibitions we have ever presented. The partners in the project participated in panel discussions, presentations, and numerous tours of the exhibition for various real life audiences. The project also spun off a couple of tangential projects, including the Tim Maley Butterfly Garden (sponsored by DADAA’s stARTSPEAK) in which Maley’s drawings are animated in a naturalistic environment. July’s unveiling at UWA to Maley and the sponsors is documented on the UWA in SL blog. (See: http://uwainsl.blogspot.com/). Due in part to his work with The Freedom Project, UWA in SL Founder and Project Director Jay Jay Jegathesan was invited to Melbourne in December by Arts Access Victoria to speak at “The Other Film Festival” at the Melbourne Brain Centre. Arts Access Victoria has supported disability through the arts for more than 40 years. While there he was interviewed on Australian national TV and radio. A full exhibition catalog of The Freedom Project was published online and in print by UWA Studies in Virtual Arts (UWA SiVA): http://tinyurl.com/UWA-SiVA.

Transcending Borders 3D Art & Machinima Challenges Following last year’s phenomenally successful REFLECTIONS exhibition celebrating UWA’s Centenary, this year we again featured two related and concurrent art challenges in 3D art and machinima. This year’s theme was TRANSCENDING BORDERS. The 5th UWA Grand 3D Art Challenge and the 7th UWA International Short Film Challenge (MachinimUWA VII) launched in July with a call for entries. As always, filmmakers were encouraged to include art entries and UWA landmarks in their film productions. The complete exhibition catalogs of both competitions are in this issue of UWA SiVA. Project Homeless 2014 In February we announced an international short film festival on the theme, “Project Homeless,” a challenge run by Screen My Shorts, Inc. and UWA in partnership with and sponsored by the Parramatta City Council. We invited entrants of all ages, cultures and abilities to submit original creative digital content (conventional film and/or machinima) to compete for a share of AUD 10,000 (L$2.28 Million) cash and prizes, (with at least AUD 700 reserved for machinima) and have their works exposed on the international stage. SL machinima took several of the prestigious awards. SL machinimist Rysan Fall’s ‘The Invisible City’ was adjudged 2nd Runner-Up Overall (AUD 500, approx. L$112,000), as well as Best Machinima Film (AUD 300, approx. L$67,000). A whisker away from both these prizes, ultimately taking 2nd (AUD 250) in the Machinima category was Tutsy Navarathna’s “Homeless,” a sublime combination of Second Life and real life elements set in India. Vilvi Rae, who in 2013 had prevented Tutsy from becoming a quadruple champion of the UWA challenges won 3rd (AUD 150), with “Sun Dog,” which looks at homelessness from an LGBT perspective.

What Makes Us Human?

Transcending Borders

“What Makes Us Human?” was a 3D modeling competition run by UWA and sponsored by the School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology as well as the School of Physics. The entries here were not intended to be artistic interpretations, but rather realistic models or simulations that could be used for teaching. 3D creators were encouraged to create a model, animation or simulation that reflects what makes us human at a cellular, organ, or system levels. Entries were Accepted from 1 December 2013 through February 2014. The judging panel was led by UWA Professorial Fellow Stuart Bunt of the School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology. The winners announced on 31 March included: • First Prize (L$81,250): Sean Tempest: Orthopedic Medical Lab • Second Prize (L$62,500): Jedda Zenovka: The Female Reproductive Organs • Third Prize (L$37,500): Jointventure: Skeleton • Fourth Prize (L$18,750): Misprint Thursday: Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy • Fifth Prize (L$12,500): Danuc Landar: Circulatory System: Right Hand

The 5th UWA Grand 3D Art Challenge and 7th UWA International Short Film Challenge (MachinimUWA VII): Transcending Borders was launched with an open call for entries in July 2014. The theme was inspired by the recent “Transcending Borders” exhibition of Korean art from the Berndt Museum collection, shown at UWA’s Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery from May-July 2014. A deadline for submissions was set for 31 October and the exhibition was officially opened immediately after. Both the 3D art and the machinima were posted on the UWAinSL blog as the submissions were received, with the art being set out in the UWA gallery in SL. Judging took place through November and the awards presentation ceremony took place on 14 December. The exhibition and machinima challenges attracted many of the top winning artists from our past challenges, as well as many artists new to us. We were especially heartened to receive entries from several of the artists who participated in the recent FREEDOM PROJECT.

The UWA “Transcending Borders” Gallery in Second Life 3

INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATION

AWARDS

In 3D Art we had 67 entries by 67 artists. Artists were allowed only one submission each. We had representation from 16 countries, including a surprisingly strong Italian cohort. (Two artists identified with two nationalities.)

Prizes were awarded in Linden Dollars (L$)* in both the 3D art competition and the Machinima VII challenge. Both art and machinima included 1st through 10th Place Awards, plus Audience Participation Awards (1st through 5th). Some levels were combined due to ties at higher levels.

3D Art USA 22 Italy 11 Australia 8 France 6 UK 6 Germany 4 Spain 2 Switzerland 2 China 1 India 1 Japan 1 Lithuania 1 Netherlands 1 Portugal 1 Serbia 1 Uruguay 1 For machinima, we had 39 entries by 33 Artists. Among these were several collaborative works as well as multiple entries. (There was no number limit for machinima.) Machinima USA 13 Australia 3 Canada 3 France 3 Spain 2 Switzerland 2 Costa Rica 1 England 1 Germany 1 Italy 1 South Africa 1 Wales 1 Unknown 1

Additionally, special prizes were awarded including UWA Curator’s Prize, a UWA Special Prize in 3D Art, and three Honorary Prizes in machinima. An entire class from York University (Toronto, Canada) participated in the 3D Art Audience Participation challenge, and they were given special awards (a1st and a tie for 2nd). Complete details of the awards given can be seen on the winners lists for 3D art and machinima, respectively, later in this publication. OUR SPONSORS We gratefully acknowledge the generosity of the following sponsors for the The 5th UWA Grand 3D Art Challenge & 7th UWA International Short Film Challenge (MachinimUWA VII) events: • Tom Papas and SciFi Film Festival • Eliza Weirwight (poster design) • LaPiscean Liberty and SL Artist • AviewTV • Arrehn Oberlander and MetaHarpers • Kip Yellowjacket and Virtlantis • Taralyn Gravois and Arts Castle Gallery • TheDoveRhode and Peace is a Choice and S&S Gallery of Fine SL Art • Barbie Alchemi of Creations for Parkinson’s • Jon Stubbs and UWA Student Services • The UWA Virtual Worlds Project

* Cash value of Linden Dollars is approximately L$250 to USD $1.00. Thus the top award of L$100,000 is equivalent to about USD $400.

The Judging Panel The distinguished panel of judges included artists, journalists, and academics from Western Australia and around the world. The same panel was used for judging both the 3D art and machinima challenges. (N.B.: The designations “SL” and RL” indicate “Second Life” and “real life” personae, respectively.)

• Professor Ted Snell (RL) - Director, Cultural Precinct, The University of Western Australia • Lyn DiCiero - Editor, WA Artist’s Chronicle • Kelly Rowe (RL) - Associate Registrar, Berndt Museum, UWA & Curator of Original Transcending Borders Exhibit at the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery • Len Zuks (RL) - West Australia Artist & Sculpturist • Merle Hearns (RL) / Briarmelle Quintessa (SL) - Senior Lecturer, Foundation Studies Department, Manukau Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand • Marylou Goldrosen - Professor, School of Art, Arizona State University • Binu Jayawardena (RL) - Founder, WASTV • A/Prof Katarina Damjanov (RL) - Communication & Media Studies, School of Social Sciences, UWA • Caine Chennat (RL) - Digital Engagement Coordinator, Cultural Precinct, UWA • C.Steele (RL) / Rasaec (SL) - Lecturer, York University, Toronto, Canada • Dr. Phylis Johnson (RL) - Media Professor, Southern Illinois University, Author - Machinima: The Art and Practice of Virtual Filmmaking (a.k.a, Sonicity Fitzroy, SL Virtual Journalist) • Dr Helen Farley (RL) - Senior Lecturer (Digital Futures), Australian Digital Futures Institute University of Southern Queensland • Debora Kaz (RL) - Director of Kaz Filmes e Produções • Lumiere Noir - Creator of the Ivory Tower Library of Primitives • FreeWee Ling (SL) - Curator, UWA 3D Open Art Challenges • Kip Yellowjacket (SL) - Co-creator, Virtlantis • TheDove Rhode (SL)- CEO & Owner of Peace Is A Choice & S&S Gallery of Fine SL Art • LaPiscean Liberty (SL) - CEO AviewTV and UWA Virtual World Technical Media Advisor • Mal Burns (SL), Metaverse News Aggregator and Broadcaster • Victoria Lennoire (SL) - Editor of BOSL Magazine • Quan Lavender (SL) - Journalist & Blogger • Tom Papas (RL) - SciFi Film Festival & Screen My Shorts, Australia • Saffia Widdershins (SL) - Owner and Editor of Prim Perfect Publications (ART Only) • Inara Pey (SL) - Journalist & Blogger • Honour McMillan (SL) - Blogger • Kara Trapdoor (SL) - Journalist & Blogger • Eleanor Medier (SL) - Editor of The Sim Street Journal • Ziki Questi (SL) - Photographer & Blogger • Thinkerer Melville (SL) / Selby Evans (RL) - Journalist & Blogger • Bevan Whitfeld (SL) - Avatar Designer & Member of the Board of Directors, Rockcliffe University • PatriciaAnne Daviau (SL) - 3D Artist • Jay Jay Jegathesan (RL) / JayJay Zifanwe (SL) - Manager of UWA School of Physics, Founder and Project Director, UWA Virtual Worlds Project.

The 5th UWA Grand 3D Art Challenge: Transcending Borders

Exhibition Catalogue

The Winners

Awards were announced at a special ceremony on the 14th of December 2014 at the BOSL Amphitheater in the UWA sims in Second Life.

1st Place Award (L$100,000)

Sharni Azalee (Perth, Western Australia, Australia) Never Say Never - Love Transcends Borders

2nd Place Award (L$70,000):

Shenn Coleman (Avignon, France) ~ Sunrise Spirit

3rd Place Award (L$50,000): Mistero Hifeng (Italy) ~ I... Io

4th Place Award (L$40,000):

Dusty Canning. (Perth, Australia) ~ The Yellow House

5th Place Award (L$30,000):

Glyph Graves (Sydney, Australia) ~ Presence

6th Place Award (L$25,000):

Takni & Misio2 (Barcelona/Melbourne, Spain/Australia) ~ Offworld

10th Place Awards (L$25,000): (There was a 5-way tie for 10th place) Igor Ballyhoo (Belgrade, Serbia) ~ Inside My Chests

Haveit Neox (California, USA) ~ PrimChords

7th Place Award (L$25,000):

Miso Susanowa (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA) 360 Degrees Of Freedom

8th Place Award (L$25,000):

Jipe Loon (Annemasse, France) ~ Baculum Murder

9th Place Award (L$25,000):

Misprint Thursday (New Hampshire, USA) Transcend The Bomb

Giovanna Cerise (Napoli, Italy) ~ Saudade Blue Tsuki (Seattle, Washington, USA) Event Horizon

Pixels Sideways (Southern California, USA) Transcending Borderz

UWA Special Prize (L$25,000)

(Chosen by Perth-based members of the judging panel)

Pale Illusion (Berlin, Germany) ~ The Paper Empire

UWA Curatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prize (L$25,000) (Chosen by curator FreeWee Ling)

Jedda Zenovka (Byron Shire, Australia) ~ Universal Love

Audience Participation Prizes

Awarded to members of the public who most closely guessed the rankings of the actual winners.

First (L$20,000): Temi Sirbu Second (L$15,000): SueWorthly

Third (L$4000): Sheba Blitz Fourth (L$2500): Rosie Dimanovic

York University Student Group Audience Participation Prizes: First (L$5,000): Abisola Okiwole Joint-Second (L$2,500 each): Vickar Tran and Stafano Onorati

The Entries

There were 67 entries by 67 artists. Ama Avro (Strasbourg, France) ~ Utopia Asperix Asp (Zaragoza, Spain) ~ Infinite Landmark Bamboo Barnes (Osaka, Japan) ~ Rasen (Spiral) Blue Tsuki (Seattle, Washington, USA) ~ Event Horizon Charles Hera (Portland, Oregon, USA) ~ Adaption - Relationships Corcosman Voom (California, USA) ~ The Tribes Go Up Daco Monday (Belluno, Italy) ~ Tango Danuc Landar (Orlando, Florida, USA) ~ Transcending Borders Dijodi Dubratt (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA) ~ The Land Office Dusty Canning. (Perth, Australia) ~ The Yellow House Eifachfilm Vacirca (Zurich, Switzerland) ~ Materialised Elettra Beardmore (Caligari, Italy) ~ Over Human Transcendence Eliza Cabassoun (Atlanta, Georgia, USA) ~ Soul Of Heart Eliza Quinzet-Leijon (Wyoming, USA) ~ Free Flight Into The Wordless Elyyza (Lithuania) ~ Meeting With A Conscience Frankx Lefavre (Sydney, Australia) ~ Ziggurat Ginger Lorakeet (Arizona, USA) ~ Transcending Borders Giorgio Nexen (Milan, Italy) ~ Sharing Ideas Face To Face Giovanna Cerise (Napoli, Italy) ~ Saudade Glyph Graves (Sydney, Australia) ~ Presence Haveit Neox (California, USA) ~ PrimChords Igor Ballyhoo (Belgrade, Serbia) ~ Inside My Chests iSkye Silverweb (Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA) ~ Nature Sees No Borders Jedda Zenovka (Byron Shire, Australia) ~ Universal Love Jesse Keyes (Dawsonville, Georgia, USA) ~ Virtual Stereoscope Jipe Loon (Annemasse, France) ~ Baculum Murder Johnny Lane (Salem, Missouri, USA) ~ 4 Dimensions JointVenture Resident (Bremen, Germany) ~ Little Feet On Their Greatest Step Kicca Igaly (Milan, Italy) ~ Transcending Borders kjs Yip (Emsdetten, Germany) ~ Following Oskar Krystali Rabeni (Blackpool, Lancashire, UK) ~ Aoratos Synora (Invisible Borders) Lagu Indigo (UK) ~ Reach For The Stars Lalie Sorbet (Pondicherry, India) ~ Walking Trough Appearances Lilia Artis (Berne, Switzerland) ~ Crossing Borders

Luko Enoch (Somerset, UK) ~ Borderless Misio2 (Melbourne, Australia) ~ Pendant “Planet Takni” Miso Susanowa (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA) ~ 360 Degrees Of Freedom Misprint Thursday (New Hampshire, USA) ~ Transcend The Bomb Mistero Hifeng (Italy) ~ I... Io Myhns Mayo (Venice, Italy) ~ Fix Time and Dissolve The Space NaTaS Janus (Painfield, Indiana, USA) ~ Transverse Pandemonium Nino Vichan (New York City, USA) ~ Bob & The Box Pale Illusion (Berlin, Germany) ~ The Paper Empire Peli Dieterle (Cologne, Germany) ~ Zoom In / Zoom Out Penelope Parx (Rome, Italy) ~ Bookstair Pixels Sideways (Southern California, USA) ~ Transcending Borderz Pol Jarvinen (Saint Jean De Luz, France) ~ Transcending Borders Roc Furse (Den Bosch, Netherlands) ~ Set Yourself Free Ronin1 Shippe (New Mexico, USA) ~ The Lute Player Secret Rage (Dallas, Texas, USA) ~ Where Do We Cross The Line? Seraph Kegel (Montevideo, Uruguay) ~ The Drawers We Fit Sharni Azalee (Perth, Western Australia, Australia) ~ Never Say Never - Love Transcends Borders Sheba Blitz ( Northern Rivers NSW , Australia) ~ Android Ascension Shenn Coleman (Avignon, France) ~ Sunrise Spirit Silva Khandr (Porto, Portugal) ~ Union Slatan Dryke (Milan, Italy) ~ Quantum Shift Sniper Siemens (Siena, Italy) ~ Secret Border Soror Nishi (UK) ~ The Nature Of Unity Spiral Silverstar (Ponchatoula, Louisiana, USA) ~ Tranz Stardove Spirt (Wales, UK) ~ Mirrored Self Of Pixel Swann Jie (Paris/Hong Kong, France/China) ~ HuaKui Cube Wall Section Takni & Misio2 (Barcelona/Melbourne, Spain/Australia) ~ Offworld Talia Sunsong (Berkeley, California, USA) ~ Judgment, Blocking And Success VilleH (Milan, Italy) ~ Turbulent Kinetic Suggestions Wizard Gynoid (Seattle, USA) ~ The 5 Elements Xia Firethorn (UK) ~ Transcending Yepar Saenz (Martinique, France) ~ Transcending Borders: The Wall

Ama Avro (Strasbourg, France) ~ Utopia

Communication... Today: September 2014 Latest News Bulletin Deadly viruses Communication all over the world Orphans Starving children Sad women Excruciating cries Communications Around the World Deadlier dreams Torture Murders Blood on the ground Are we blind? Are we deaf?

Communication... Virtual Communication â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Who pulls the web ? At the beginning... no Once upon a time... no Utopia... no, not even Utopia... I dream of you I am a woman. I live in France, near Strasbourg, near German border. Yesterday, the Germans were at war with us French. Today the Germans are our dear neighbors. What happens to the wars in future ? Peace. ~ Ama Avro

Asperix Asp (Zaragoza, Spain) ~ Infinite Landmark

The artist has used, and in some cases modified, a dozen software programs to create, manage and alter each one of his images. After creating a 3D structure he covers it with a water texture. This element, properly illuminated, is located in the center of a virtual box with mirrored walls. The reflections multiply, prolonging itself without end. It is an infinite sequence within a finite space. ~ Asperix Asp

Bamboo Barnes (Osaka, Japan) ~ Rasen (

)

Things look different depending on which side you are on, not so simple as black or white. Usually we think "us and them" in many cases, but is it not always so; but maybe we see only what we want to see. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rasenâ&#x20AC;? means helix/spiral, in Japanese. ~ Bamboo Barnes

Blue Tsuki (Seattle, Washington, USA) ~ Event Horizon

The event horizon is the border between here and the unknown. ~ Blue Tsuki

Charles Hera (Portland, Oregon, USA) ~ Adaption - Relationships

Original mesh creation. In order to maintain balance we often need to adapt. By adapting we can transcend the borders of difference and create something new. ~ Charles Hera

Corcosman Voom (California, USA) ~ The Tribes Go Up

When I read the theme Transcending Borders, I thought about tribes meeting on neutral ground for the purpose of trade and other mutually beneficial activities. Butterflies don't do that, of course... but that's what I thought about. ~ Corcosman Voom

Daco Monday (Belluno, Italy) ~ Tango

An artistic pathway, a hymn to utopia, a light, a North star which leads mankind. My art starts from existential issues and reflections that occur in the cultural change which affects mankind nowadays. ~ Daco Monday

Danuc Landar (Orlando, Florida, USA) ~ Transcending Borders

Born in painted borders. ~ Danuc Landar

Dijodi Dubratt (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA) ~ The Land Office â&#x20AC;&#x153;Land Officeâ&#x20AC;? explores how people come to a new world with vast possibilities, and are limited by the preconceived notions they bring with them. If we brought a different set of perspectives with us into Second Life, would we use it in a different way? Without awareness of what we bring with us, we may cross borders but we do not transcend them. ~ Dijodi Dubratt

Dusty Canning (Perth, Australia) ~ The Yellow House

In 1888 Vincent van Gogh captured his three dimensional vision of his home and surroundings in Arles, France, and transformed them into a 72cm x 92cm two dimensional oil painting that he titled 'The Yellow House'. In 2014, 126 years later, using technology that even Vincent could never have dreamed of, his 2D creation has returned to the dimension from whence it came. ~ Dusty Canning

Eifachfilm Vacirca (Zurich, Switzerland) ~ Materialised

“Entfremdet früh dem Wahn der Wirklichkeiten, versagend sich der schnell gegebenen Welt, ermüdet von dem Trug der Einzelheiten, da keine sich dem tiefen Ich gesellt;”

(from “Abschied” by Gottfried Benn, 1886-1956)

Cross the border and translate it to the language of your choice. d-^.^-b ~ Eifachfilm Vacirca

Elettra Beardmore (Caligari, Italy) ~ Over Human Transcendence

Over Human Transcendence describes human existence as transcending through various stages from non-existence into existence and then beyond existence. ~ Elettra Beardmore

Eliza Cabassoun (Atlanta, Georgia, USA) ~ Soul Of Heart

Soul Of Heart was created during a concert performed by Prowess Rayna last year. She invited me to torture prims on stage while she performed on piano, and this was the second sculpture I created. It is named "Soul of Heart" because if you look at it as it spins, at a certain angle, it looks like a heart. ~ Eliza Cabassoun

Eliza Quinzet-Leijon (Wyoming, USA) ~ Free Flight Into The Wordless

This sculpture's name is from a line from "A Clear Midnight" by Walt Whitman: THIS is thy hour O Soul, thy free flight into the wordless, Away from books, away from art, the day erased, the lesson done, Thee fully forth emerging, silent, gazing, pondering the themes thou lovest best. Night, sleep, and the stars. We may actually place many boundaries in our lives ourselves. If this is so, it might mean that we can choose how and when we can transcend those boundaries. Eventually, transcendence may even be inevitable if we are willing to behave as the atoms and accept our places in the universe. ~ Eliza Quinzet-Leijon

Elyyza (Lithuania) ~ Meeting With A Conscience

The German philosopher Immanuel Kant said that in the world there are only two things that fill the soul with wonder and respect: the starry heavens above and the moral law within us. Dictionary of the Bible states: "Conscience - the perception of the human soul that recognizes the moral law which is an incorruptible witness within people that supports or condemns; that which speaks what is right and what is wrong."* Conscience operates independently of our will. It compares our behavior to some high standard, as a result of the transcendent reasons that everyone feels responsible. The manifestation of conscience proves the reality of reason. Even if the person is not aware of its existence, conscience reminds him of his responsibility for eternity. It is natural to ask, where is the human conscience? How does it look? ~ Elyyza

*Paraphrased in translation.

Frankx Lefavre (Sydney, Australia) ~ Ziggurat

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve taken the theme of transcending borders as the idea of transcending the borders of our minds. To communicate our ideas across humanity in the hope of transcending the barriers and borders our world seems to put up between us. Set in the Ziggurat are 8 heads linked by particles over moving water around the centrepiece of 4 outward facing heads. You can walk inside via a doorway which opens as you approach the western edge of the Ziggurat. ~ Frankx Lefavre

Ginger Lorakeet (Arizona, USA) ~ Transcending Borders

In a dream somewhere between real life and Second Life. ~ Ginger Lorakeet

Giorgio Nexen (Milan, Italy) ~ Sharing Ideas Face To Face Convince themselves of their own mind, looking in the mirror. Incommunicability, incomprehension... we talk to the other without being able to cross the border of the space around us... but it is sufficient to establish a relationship with each other to overcome all the borders... so "CLICK ME." ~ Giorgio Nexen

This piece uses an artificial intelligence text generator to engage visitors in synthetic conversation. CUBISM MEN: Hello there. Do you want to share your ideas with us? FreeWee Ling: Sure CUBISM MEN: OK let's do it. I understand. FreeWee Ling: Are you art? CUBISM MEN: Do I look like it? FreeWee Ling: Yes. CUBISM MEN: It goes without saying. FreeWee Ling: Do you enjoy being art? CUBISM MEN: I have never known another existence. FreeWee Ling: Would you like to dance? CUBISM MEN: No thanks, I don't think I'd like to do that. FreeWee Ling: What is your name? CUBISM MEN: My name is Cubic Man. FreeWee Ling: Are you the head on the right? CUBISM MEN: Yes I am the one and only head on the right. FreeWee Ling: Are you looking in a mirror? CUBISM MEN: Yes I can see it well. FreeWee Ling: What do you see? CUBISM MEN: I see a computer nerd. FreeWee Ling: Have you any spare prims? CUBISM MEN: No I don't think I have any spare prims. But I do have an answer to every question.. FreeWee Ling: Have a nice day. CUBISM MEN: You too!

Giovanna Cerise (Napoli, Italy) ~ Saudade

Saudade is the desire of something beautiful that by the time you realize you know that is ending. The two dancers are captured in the final moment of their tango. The couple is multiplied in its isolation to prolong indefinitely the time of pleasure and sadness. The physical and emotional tension brings them almost to crushing, but ready to begin again, in uncontrollable obsession, in trying to overcome all the physical and emotional limits. ~ Giovanna Cerise

Glyph Graves (Sydney, Australia) ~ Presence This is a performance work, except the performer (my real life self ) is not evident. My presence is seen nonetheless by the effect I have on the things around me. When I sit in my chair in my studio and I swivel my chair, the chair in SL swivels in the same way. If I lean back the SL chair leans back. It will also creak if it moves. When I turn my monitor on the monitor in SL lights up and changes brightness according to how bright the bottom left corner of my monitor is. If I turn the ceiling light on in my study the ceiling light in the room in SL turns on. If my studio is a bit warm and I open or close the window, the window in SL opens or closes. When I get up and walk past the sonar sensor (usually going in and out of my studio) this triggers the sound of footsteps at the same relative distance inside the SL room, i.e. you should hear me walk past you. This movement is then recorded inworld, listed and displayed (i.e. data about data, or metadata). And let’s not forget the ambient surroundings of my life. You can watch the dawn (just before 11 midday SLT) and sunset (around 1am SLT) recreated as seen through my studio window in Sydney from the cosy safety of SL. It is brightest around 3-5pm Sydney time (7-8pm SLT.) Another way of looking at this is as an example of the “Internet of Things.” Let me introduce you to the “things” that have joined the Internet—my swivel chair, the window, part of my monitor and— by default I guess you could include me as one of those “things” when I interact with them or move in front of the sonar (distance) sensor.

So why am I, in effect, stalking myself using the net?

Technical Stuff

This is part of my ongoing practice of crossing the border between virtual and physical. Where the piece “Reflections in Diversity” turned the virtual into physical, this turns the physical world virtual.

I am currently using two Arduino compatibles, one with two photo-sensors and a flex sensor attached (external/ceiling lights, window open/close), the other an Arduino Mega compatible with a light sensor (monitor) and an MPU 9150 (accelerometer/ gyro/magnetometer) to determine seat rotation.

Underlying this, it is about how by revealing information, the peripheral data of your life, you can be defined by it. This happens all the time, every time you use the Net. When you “like” something on Facebook, though this seems innocuous enough, it can be used to construct a very accurate profile of you. (Search “like button” and “privacy” for references.) Want to share secrets with total anonymity? Well there’s Whisper, “the safest place on the internet.” Except recent newspaper investigations appear to show that it isn’t that anonymous. Now add this to something like Google or Facebook that insist on using your real name. Then add all the data they get form other sources (Likes, the sort of videos you watch on Youtube, and your IP address which locates you to city and sometimes closer). Oh wait, hang on, Whisper is a Facebook app.

I also use a HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor to determine if I’m up from my desk and how far to produce the sound of footsteps that move according to where I am. I use this excellent library for the MPU 9150: http:// tinyurl.com/o653af7, and added Ethernet, flexsensor and photosensor code. I use the Freetronics Arduino compatibles with Ethernet built-in versions. Acknowledgment The framed photograph, “Love Eternal”, is by Photographer Karl Grenet http://www.karlgrenet.com. Used with permission of the artist. ~ Glyph Graves

Of course, though, like everyone else I’m very relieved that Google “does no evil.” It’s just as well, too, given that your age and gender are determined, your email is scanned, as are your Google searches, so they can be more helpful to you by providing targeted personal advertisements. It is also nice they spell out what info they grab, in a pleasant friendly way of course (http://tinyurl.com/nfbdpzt).

Haveit Neox (California, USA) ~ PrimChords

As a kid I was fascinated to my very core with languages and I desperately wanted to create one. For years I worked inventing a hieroglyphic code. But even in my obsession I noticed it appeared like one of the dead languages I knew it was because no one used it. I recently brought it into the virtual world of Second Life and integrated it (with simple geometric changes) into my 3D build, and thus into the culture of a virtual city and its history. Suddenly, the writing system felt alive, almost like a real language. The sculpture "PrimChords" tells the story of my anticipated breakthrough. ~ Haveit Neox

Igor Ballyhoo (Belgrade, Serbia) ~ Inside My Chests

Igor’s piece consists of two large cube sets. The inner set rotates slowly clockwise. He describes the piece as “open heart surgery.” ~Igor Ballyhoo

iSkye Silversweb (Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA) ~ Nature Sees No Borders

The borders of the earth only exist in the minds of its human occupants. Look upon the earth from space. You won't see any lines. They are only drawn on maps - artificial, imposed for the convenience of mankind. The elements of nature work their magic upon all of us - the soil upon which we stand, the sun's fire that brings life-giving warmth, the air that moves across the planet, the water that covers so much of our world and even compose our bodies. Everything is connected, uninfluenced by the lines on maps. The elements don't care about those lines. Humanity should not be divided by: map lines, skin colour, language, culture/ethnicity, wealth, social status, disability. The higher you rise above the world, the more those lines fade out of view. ~ iSkye Silverweb

Jedda Zenovka (Byron Shire, Australia) ~ Universal Love

Borders exist only in our minds. They are what happens when the mind is closed and cannot see. To transcend the limitations of one’s imagination and social constraints, we need to open our minds and hearts... explore our own inner worlds. As barriers dissolve, it is only these differences which remain in awareness. Those differences are the borders we face. When we we can cross these without fear or prejudice then we can truly evolve. The music you hear is “Universal Love Song,” a collaboration between myself and Fishcow. ~ Jedda Zenovka

Jesse Keyes (Dawsonville, Georgia, USA) ~ Virtual Stereoscope

A look to see where virtual anything is headed: Think of how virtual worlds can be used to simulate or visualize real work in real time. Gaming is one of course. Medical is another. Aircraft or any kind of maintenance simulation. ~ Jesse Keyes

Jipe Loon (Annemasse, France) ~ Baculum Murder

"Baculum murder" may have as many meanings as you wish. I will however give here some interpretation clues: PHYSICAL TRANSCENDENCE: Touma誰, our oldest ancestor, is here laying murdered, a bone in his chest, the "baculum" ... Many male mammals are provided with this bone, including our closest cousins, chimpanzees and gorillas. It is a penis bone. The "baculum" here represents the rib that's supposedly missing in men... "So the LORD God put the human into a deep and heavy sleep, and took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh over it. With the rib taken from the human, the LORD God fashioned a woman and brought her to the human being." (Genesis 2:21-22) SPIRITUAL TRANSCENDENCE: The warrior and the Goddess are inspired by Michelangelo's fresco: "The Creation of Adam." TRANSCENDENCE GENETICS: The zebra bear transcends itself genetically to adapt to climate change. ~ Jipe Loon

Johnny Lane (Salem, Missouri, USA) ~ 4 Dimensions

It shows all 4 dimensions of SL to real life: how we make avatars, how we share our real life here in SL, and how we find love and lasting friendships. That makes SL what it is: a world within a world made by people to make their dreams and desires come true. ~ Johnny Lane

JointVenture Resident (Bremen, Germany) ~ Little Feet On Their Greatest Step

A 3D artwork about generations overcoming prejudices. Transcending borders by thinking multiculturally and eliminating the propagation of prejudice from generation to generation. ~ JointVenture

Kicca Igaly (Milan, Italy) ~ Transcending Borders

Real space and virtual space... there really is a boundary between the two? ~ Kicca

kjs Yip (Emsdetten, Germany) ~ Following Oskar

Following Oskar means transcending borders between concrete and abstract art. The avatar, used in this project, is called Oskar in memory of the Bauhaus artist Oskar Schlemmer. ~ kjs Yip

Krystali Rabeni (Blackpool, Lancashire, UK) ~ Aoratos Synora (Invisible Borders)

ART + SCIENCE = NATURE YOU ARE LISTENING TO THE SOUNDS OF TREES AND STONES. SINGING STONES The singing stones are round and smooth, shiny black and extremely large, weighing in excess of ten tonnes each and are made of a heavy metallic stone that rings like a bell if struck by another smaller piece of the same stone. There are hundreds of tonnes of them and there is no indication of where they came from or how they got where they are. They are accepted as basalt rocks, but this type of rock is usually associated with volcanic eruptions and there is no evidence or history of volcanic activity in places where the 'singing stones' are found Legend has it that these stones were spewed up by the giant 'Gargantua.' SOUNDS OF TREES When a tree is cut down, we as humans make use of it in many ways... however, what hides inside is a beautiful song when played like a record and digitally transformed. The older the tree, the more the rings. This opens up possibilities of comparative analysis among different species of trees as well as different time periods or stages of life. For example, is there a different emotional quality to the growth ring sounds of a tree growing in a war zone compared to a tree growing in a tropical island paradise? What about the effect of weather or climate patterns? What about petrified wood? Interesting food for thought. The arts and sciences are actually closer to each other than people realize. This is because both art and science are about creating. Some of the most effective artists and scientists are fueled by ignorance. Neither artists nor scientists can prove when they reach the â&#x20AC;&#x153;truth.â&#x20AC;? What other magical stories does nature hide from us? Maybe it is time to transcend the borders between Nature, Art and Science in order to understand a language that has been around us since time began. ~Krystali Rabeni

Lagu Indigo (UK) ~ Reach For The Stars

Within Second Life there are balloons that you can fly right up in the sky, and when you fly with your balloon and look down on all the creations within Second Life, it looks amazing, The balloon reminds me of how far I have come though Second Life, learning and seeing wonderful arts and builds and being part of all this and flying though with colours and rewards. My journey and friends have risen me up to new heights. Like riding a balloon that rises until you become a star. Reach for your star and transcend to new heights; set your sights higher. We are not aloneâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;guidance comes from the universe and the stars. By going beyond your limits you transcend to new and wonderful beginningsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;like space and the starsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;showing us the ways beyond our limitations, making our dreams come true and being renewed. Have faith. Look to the stars for guidance and trust and aim for the reward. I made two balloons and within each balloon is a star. The star people are you and your friends, looking up to reach the star, the balloon gets you to your destination. Within Second Life and real life there will always be support and guidance to make a dream come true. ~ Lagu Indigo

Lalie Sorbet (Pondicherry, India) ~ Walking Trough Appearances In recent years I have focused on macrophotographs of insects, spiders, flowers, water drops. Facing the marvellous world of insects, spiders, drops and all other invisible creatures, its shapes, its colors, its improbable encounters, the wish came like a dream of entering that world and its particular dimension as if I was exploring an enchanted and mysterious planet.

As I couldn't get into it myself, the idea came naturally to bring Lalie, my avatar, in one of my real life dewdrop macrophotographs. She transcended the borders between reality and virtuality with joy and curiosity. ~ Lalie Sorbet 96

Lilia Artis (Berne, Switzerland) ~ Crossing Borders We are surrounded by borders: cultural, religious, personal and many more. They are meant to protect societies, to protect us. But they can be a prison and suffocate us. If we feel the need to cross a border, we never know what lies ahead. It could be heaven, it could be hell and anything in between. So we spend our lives trying to decide which borders to cross and where to stay within them. But if we cross a border it will change us forever. ~ Lilia Artis

Luko Enoch (Somerset, UK) ~ Borderless

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This work of art explores the boundaries of perception in relation to studies of qualiaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;how every individual perceives the same thing differently. When in creative flux I always tend to drift into an unexplainable moment where thought and imagination dance with each other. They collide and bounce off one another until it becomes hard to perceive it visually. Every time I produce something visual it has gone through barriers to get there. Walls of emotion torn down, passion screaming through. Always aiming for that place between the stars and beyond. An entity bound by nothing, an entity that has evolved to be out there with the energies of the universe in a completely untethered, raw form. Partaking with the particles and the motion of existence. ~ Luko Enoch

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Misio2 (Melbourne, Australia) ~ Pendant â&#x20AC;&#x153;Planet Takniâ&#x20AC;?

This piece was inspired by SL toy maker Takni, executed in real life in sterling silver with opal, pearl and diamond, and imported to SL to make us all fly. Scripting: Takni Mesh build: Zoran Concept: Misio2

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Miso Susanowa (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA) ~ 360 Degrees Of Freedom

How transcending the border of real-life limitation into the digital can free an imagination. ~ Miso Susanowa

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Misprint Thursday (New Hampshire, USA) ~ Transcend The Bomb Together we die TO get HER The word together Transcends the bomb ~ Misprint Thursday

Public Domain Video footage from www. archive.org remixed in an original atomic bomb mashup. Footage retrieved from the Prelinger Archives. Original Music: Adam Bomb mp3: Guitar composed and played by Adam Fauteaux and remixed with sound art by Misprint Thursday. Full permissions given as a collaborator. Animated GIF art and poem: Misprint Thursday

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Mistero Hifeng (Italy) ~ I... Io

How far can we lead ourselves? Sometimes exceeding the limits means to lose oneself. In the image of the man who dissolves into a thousand pieces, there is all the drama of loneliness and desperation of those who can not go back. ~ Mistero Hifeng

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Myhns Mayo (Venice, Italy) ~ Fix Time and Dissolve The Space

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Capture the moment of a movement, a picture, a snapshot of a cinema. Shadows and colors are only impressions in our eyes. Exceed the dimension of time staring at a materiality that dissolves into space. ~ Myhns Mayo

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NaTaS Janus (Painfield, Indiana, USA) ~ Transverse Pandemonium

Well, if there is any larger border to transcend than death, I would be hard pressed to name it. I wanted to try something original, so I did this in the form of four 3-D comic panels. ~ NaTaS Janus

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Nino Vichan (New York City, USA) ~ Bob & The Box I have marveled at the potential we have here in Second Life to interact with a world-wide community, rich in languages both linguistic and nonlinguistic. In this installation I explore the relationship between language and humor in both visual and linguistic forms. I have chosen a few areas such as art and theater, but I have also explored the difficult nature of cross-language puns and proverbs or "expressions."

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I present to you Bob, the archetype of the simple minded, naive and good natured guy, and his companion The Box, whose sarcastic nature feeds off of Bob's innocence. This is a classic form of visual humor that serves as a vehicle for my exploration of visual and linguistic humor across cultures and language borders. ~ Nino Vichan

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Pale Illusion (Berlin, Germany) ~ The Paper Empire

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If only.... We have more walls today than ever before, and if it is not a physical wall, then it's a wall in peoples minds. It's a question of nationality, religion, ethical background or simply because the other is different, and we don't understand them.

I wish these walls were made of cardboard. Easy to tear down by watering them with positive thoughts, understanding or just by burning them down with love and passion. Today we see these walls get even higher, sometimes fueled by Governments who don't care about suffering and death. It's a sad world we live in and we now seem to have more wars than we did in the past. Their end is not in sight, and the growing need for resources will only make it worse. Humanity is at a turning point; we all realize it yet none wish to give up the standards of living we now have. Love and understanding might be the key What walls do you have ? ~ Pale Illusion

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Peli Dieterle (Cologne, Germany) ~ Zoom In / Zoom Out

Pondering the theme 'borders' I thought instantly of the international tragedies going on at the island of Lampedusa (where thousands of refugees were drowning, trying to cross the well-guarded borders of Europe). Looking closer into the theme though, I decided to do a macro sized microscope in the style of pop art. The assemblage has peripheral references to borderlines, a water molecule, space travel and foreign planets. The shuttle of course is on its way to the International Space Stationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the satellite that comes to mind as the most comprehensive expression of the given theme. My preoccupation with 'Lampedusa' still resonates within this build as an faint reproduction of 'The Raft of Medusa' by GĂŠricault (visible through the top lens). ~ Peli Dieterle

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Penelope Parx (Rome, Italy) ~ Bookstair

Penelope gives us a stairway of books that lead us to someplace... else. Knowledge changes us in ways that can be profound and unexpected.

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Pixels Sideways (Southern California, USA) ~ Transcending Borderz

The installation features several mesh figures with monitors for headsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;that's what I feel like a good deal of the time. On the screens are projected light collages. The figures around the perimeter have animations so touch them and hit your escape key for the cam view. All the images and projected images are from photos I took in Second Life over several years and a couple of textures I made and imported. This is all experimental and since I've been sort of busy with some projects lately, I had one idea that was going to be this complex concept but lacking the time to make the UWA deadline, I decided to try working with the light collages instead. The original idea did include the animation in the figures who reach out with palms up inviting visitors to respond in kindâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to connect one-on-one with the art. I created this installation in three days. I hope to explore the idea of light collages further. ~ Pixels Sideways

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Pol Jarvinen (Saint Jean De Luz, France) ~ Transcending Borders

Polâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s piece is a set of boxes that constantly shift and change size creating an uncertain, and perhaps a bit uneasy, morphing. It is never quite the same, but also never really different from moment to moment.

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Roc Furse (Den Bosch, Netherlands) ~ Set Yourself Free

"Set Yourself Free" depicts the struggle we all face in everyday life where social, cultural and other pressures can keep us going in circles. Sometimes setting ourselves free from the rat race literally means breaking with the rules set upon us by others and ourselves and allowing ourselves to cross a boundary: take a different route and do what is good for us! The entry was inspired by and based on the 1960 lithograph "Ascending and Descending" by Dutch artist Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898 - 1972), an optical illusion of a building which includes stairs that can be ascended and descended forever. When viewed from exactly the right angle, my entry mimics that illusion. ~ Roc Furse 136

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Ronin1 Shippe (New Mexico, USA) ~ The Lute Player

“The Lute Player” is about transcending the borders between the “real” and the imagined, between music (the theme is a lute player) and the mind, and between the western and the eastern (the woman depicted is a Japanese geisha, her face a mask of concentration, as her fingers dart over the strings). ~ Ronin1 Shippe

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Secret Rage (Dallas, Texas, USA) ~ Where Do We Cross The Line? Often when a border is crossed there is no clear way of knowing exactly when it occurred. Sometimes the answer is not so easy. Did it have to be intentional? Was it when we initially conceived the idea to cross it? Is it when we take the first motion or step? Must we be able to see the border for it to be crossed? Or is it when one is first on one side- then entirely on the other? Must the sides be so different that one would immediately know when it happened? Would others also need to be aware of it for the crossing to have happened?

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The answers, like many of the angles of this piece, are sometimesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;not alwaysâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;clear... and the view of the one doing the transcending is not always that of the one observing the transformation. Through the use of both positive and negative spaces, both light and dark as well as gradient tones, and the use of transparencies in unexpected places I hope to show that TRANSCENDING BORDERS is not just black and white, but sometimes a personal viewpoint or experience and a private journey. ~ Secret Rage

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Seraph Kegel (Montevideo, Uruguay) ~ The Drawers We Fit It all started by thinking about art media. Because the topic was â&#x20AC;&#x153;transcending borders,â&#x20AC;? I pondered on digital media and the artists behind the making of projects in that area. I wondered about how it really did differ from creating in other media, or if it even was the same for everyone. And I decided that it was almost impossible to trace a line between that which could be considered traditional and that thought of as digital. After all, there's some stage of thinking, of sketching, of proposing, of imagining that is common to everything we do, and that makes borders join at the birth of things. That made me wonder if there was such thing as a digital way of thinking that was developed out of the media instead, being that there are matters that separate the making in an environment like Second Life from other media. What matters to the piece is that this made me think about how as humans we often need to separate and divide things into categories, into labels and drawers. Just as we need to be able to stop and observe things in particular, with the details, at the same time we tend to abstract and divide and put categories and names that make things fit into one drawer and not another. And it is not just about things, but also about people. Yet those drawers don't really exist. They serve as a way of organizing, but all those things we place into drawers are breaking out of them as soon as we push them in. There are no borders that can keep what is inside apart; everything touches and everything relates in one way or another, even when we can't see it at first. Even when we let those drawers and labels tie ourselves up. ~ Seraph Kegel

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Sharni Azalee (Perth, Western Australia, Australia) ~ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Never say Neverâ&#x20AC;? - Love Transcends Borders My entry is a tribute piece to all those that have transcended the borders of real life and Second Life to find that special person who fills their heart and makes their soul sing. Before and during building I spoke to many people who had found their real life loves in Second Life; heard amazing stories of how, against all odds, they transcended the borders of not only a virtual reality but also traveling literally across the world to be together. I tried to use their "feeling" to connect to them and build an immersive piece that represented the beauty and magic of their journey and unions. I like to allow the viewer to form their own feeling and story to any piece however some focal points to me were: 1. The Egg - The egg itself, like the seed, is a symbol of the potential of life. Back in ancient times the egg was a symbol of the universe, of creation, and in some cultures, luck wealth, and health. In Jewish tradition it symbolizes promise. In Christian tradition it is a metaphor for resurrection, immortality, and the trinity. To all it symbolizes birth and a symbol of hope of growth and new life. My egg is textured in an animated nebula to represent this across the universe and many worlds, not just one plane of life. 2. The Cherry Blossom - The significance of the cherry blossom tree in Japanese culture goes back hundreds of years. Often representing the fragility and the beauty of life. It is a reminder that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful but that it is also tragically short. When the cherry blossom trees bloom for a short time each year in brilliant force, they serve as a visual reminder of how precious and how precarious life is and how to recognise this and act without fear can bring about immense joy that may have been thought of as unobtainable. 3. The Ladder - The central idea of a ladder is gaining special, albeit precarious, access to other places, suggesting not only spiritual elevation but 144

an activation of emotions and action to move towards a goal. In this piece it represents the sometimes unsteady climb of one rung at a time to reach that point in love where it is surrounded only by beauty and peace. 4. The Inner Egg - Once inside the egg the viewer is surrounded by pink clouds. The clouds representing arriving at that place of peace and beauty, the cherry blossoms a further reminder of their own significance to the journey of transcending love. Pink clouds symbolise romanticism, love, floating and being high on life itself. 5. The Tree and Bench - The cherry tree and bench came about from a beautiful Haiku written by a friend. In this piece I imagined the English gentleman, sitting at the Swiss train station, writing to his American love in a Japanese Haiku. To me this represented the diversity of the people within second life and the ability we all share to view each other as "one" regardless of where we live in the world. Some may remember this tree and bench from a very dark art piece I did previously for UWA, I decided to re-texture them, using them again in a light piece, also as symbols of transcending from the darkness of the piece named "Alone" to the lightness of "Never say Never". 6. The Bags - Three bags that sit with him at the station, labeled and waiting to be filled with Peace, Love and Serenity 6. The Words - These words given to me in stories of love, writings in profiles, feelings from experiences... made into a story of one man's love for a woman yet representative of all people finding love transcending virtual world to real world. I hope you enjoy my piece and remember no matter your situation, experience or environment, "Never Say Never" ;) ~ Sharni Azalee

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Sheba Blitz ( Northern Rivers NSW , Australia) ~ Android Ascension

Android Ascension represents transcending from human form to an enlightened, higher-conscious post-human android form encased in a sacred pyramid sanctuary. ~ Sheba Blitz

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Shenn Coleman (Avignon, France) ~ Sunrise Spirit

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Sharing to reach beyond the boundaries of our imagination is always a fantastic adventure. I wish to thank Alma (elwenn.arun), a talented creator, who has been my source of inspiration and helped me bring this creation to this world. It is through the sharing of ideas and know-how that we have been able to bring this scene to life. ~ Shenn Coleman

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difficult to grasp the scale of Shennâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s installation. It resides within a cube 150 meters square and contains five separate dioramas.

Silva Khandr (Porto, Portugal) ~ Union

Silvaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s piece is a representation of separation and unityâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;how people and bodies come from disparate places to become one.

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Slatan Dryke (Milan, Italy) ~ Quantum Shift From the Stone Age to Molecular Biology, from the first simple tools derived from nature to the research laboratories of the human genome. The journey of our brain begins in the rough hands of CroMagnon Man and leads us to the discovery of the cellular micro cosmos: from a claw and a shell to a neuron and DNA helix. Thousands of years of evolution in a nanosecond, repeated billions of times in the space of a single day! The perpetual motion and the organized chaos of the brain's synapses, the neurotransmitters have as border only a subtlety of their actions, that does not seem to belong to the real world but at the same time is our time, our world every second, every day for a life in constant evolution. The tangible reality and the impenetrable brain mechanism: two worlds that appear distant and mysterious but that transcend, merging and melting together. Sharing and exchanging information, experiences and emotions: a chemical or electrical flash is a tiny leap into the knowledge of who we really were, and are. ~ Slatan Dryke

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Sniper Siemens (Siena, Italy) ~ Secret Border

My work takes up the theme of the film "Transcendence" with Johnny Depp. The work shows how the boundary between real and virtual is very thin. The consequences of this fusion between the two realities is not always visible and in some cases is kept hidden. ~ Sniper Siemens

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Soror Nishi (UK) ~ The Nature Of Unity

Soror uses abstract organic forms and textures inspired by nature.

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Spiral Silverstar (Ponchatoula, Louisiana, USA) ~ Tranz

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A 3D fractal version of the theme Transcending Borders, as interpreted by the viewer. ~ Spiral Silverstar

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Stardove Spirt (Wales, UK) ~ Mirrored Self Of Pixel

A surface capable of reflecting sufficient undiffused light to form an image of an object placed in front of it. Monozygotic (twin) Twins can either be monozygotic ("identical"), meaning that they develop from one zygote that splits and forms two embryos, or dizygotic ("fraternal"), meaning that they develop from two eggs, each fertilized by separate sperm cells. Just like real life in my build I have expressed the image of the self in pixels because even in Second Life a being lives as a twin. ~ Stardove Spirit

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Swann Jie (Paris, France/Hong Kong, China) ~ HuaKui Cube Wall Section

A small section of a HuaKui Cube Wall for the "Adopt a cube" project from the Virtual World to the Real World. Everybody is invited to adopt a cube in real life. I will put a QR code linking to a URL of your choice in the real life installation. List of cubes already adopted from around the world; Australia, France, Austria, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan, and many others see list below : http://swannbb.blogspot.com/2010/04/ adoption-of-huahui-mobile-house-listof.html ~ Swann Jie

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Takni (Barcelona, Spain) & Misio2 (Melbourne, Australia) ~ Offworld

Ever wondered how many shapes you can build with 30 equal cubes? A shape made of cubes is a 'shape' not because the cubes are arranged in a certain way, but because it summons shapes in your memory. So virtual worlds are basically made of inner worlds. There are no offworlds, only inworlds. ~ Takni & Misio2

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Talia Sunsong (Berkeley, California, USA) ~ Judgment, Blocking And Success

This piece invites the viewer into it, to walk past the judgmental faces and eyes that follow you, to be blocked temporarily by the grasping hands of the stony one above, and to transcend the mental boundaries of limitation, to reach the ultimate goal, of achieving your dreams, represented by the basin of gems. ~ Talia Sunsong

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VilleH (Milan, Italy) ~ Turbulent Kinetic Suggestions

Visual perception of kinetic turbulence suggests the body and makes one feel the need to look away. Lights, colors, shapes, kaleidoscopes of reality absorbed by eyes, bright borders that wrap around one another to rediscover the pleasure of the dark. ~ VilleH

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Wizard Gynoid (Seattle, USA) ~ The 5 Elements

Wizard Gynoid is known for her complex (and sometimes very large scale) geometric constructions generated algorithmically. This piece is a relatively small example with internal triangles color-coded to represent the interrelationships of the five elements in Chinese philosophy: wood, earth, water, fire, and metal.

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Xia Firethorn (UK) ~ Transcending

The human brain: how much can we use and how much further can we develop? Will we eventually perceive the realities of our existence? -Xia Firethorn

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Yepar Saenz (Martinique, France) ~ Transcending Borders: The Wall

The Wall - El Muro "No we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cross the border, the border crossed us." (Mexican immigrant) I recently visited a museum. Inside it spoke of the history of the immigrants who helped build the state. At the end of the tour I found notes written by people who had crossed the border between Mexico and the United States. I began to mourn reading what people wrote, not only because some writings were poignant, but for the fact that I'm an immigrant myself... but in another country: France. I have spent many years fighting for my papers to be equal to all citizens and I have the feeling that I'm climbing a huge wall that does not end. That's why when I heard the challenge "transcending borders" the word "wall" came immediately to my mind. ~Yepar Saenz

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7th UWA International Short Film Challenge (MachinimUWA VII): Transcending Borders

The Winners

Awards were announced at a special ceremony 14 Decembet 2014 at the BOSL Amphitheater in the UWA sims in Second Life.

First Place Award (L$100,000):

Tutsy Navarathna (Frenchman in Pondicherry, India) ~ Metaphore - Transcending Borders

Joint 2nd Place Award (L$60,000):

Erythro Asimov (Tours, France) ~ The 6th Extinction

Joint 2nd Place Award (L$60,000):

Vilvi Rae (Jyvaskylla, Finland) ~ No Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Land Because of the tie for 2nd, no 3rd Place was given.

Joint 4th Place Award (L$35,000):

Natascha Randt (Gelsenkirchen, Germany) & Karima Hoisan (San Isidro del General, Costa Rica) The Connection

Joint 4th Place Award (L$35,000):

Joe Zazulak [Spiral Silverstar] (New Orleans, LA, USA) ~ Transcending (surreal) Borders No 5th Place was given.

Joint 6th Place Award (L$25,000):

Pepa Cometa (Andalusia, Spain) ~ Little Marie

Joint 6th Place Award (L$25,000): Iono Allen (Paris, France) ~ Butchery

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No 7th Place was given.

8th Place Award (L$25,000):

Haveit Neox (Los Angeles, USA) ~ Reading Primchords

9th Place Award (L$25,000):

Chic Aeon (Corvallis, Oregon, USA) ~ The Ghost in the Machine

Joint 10th Place Award (L$12,500):

Lilia Artis (Berne Switzerland), Haveit Neox (Los Angeles, USA) & Moeuhane Sandalwood (Berne, Switzerland) ~ Striding - Unknown Roads

Joint 10th Place Award (L$12,500):

Yepar Saenz (The Island of Martinique, French Caribbean) ~ Delphine et Hippolyte

Curator’s Prize (L$25,000): Selected by Curator FreeWee Ling among machinima that featured art from the UWA challenges. Haveit Neox (Los Angeles, USA) ~ Reading Primchords

UWA partnership with the SciFi Film Festival’s 2014 Project SciFi, Honourable Mention in the Machinima category (L$ equivalent of $200AUD): ABOUT FACE by AvaJean Westland & Virtual Girl Productions of New York City USA

UWA Honorable Mention Prize for MESSAGE (L$15,000):

Eric Takkar (New York, USA) & Arcane Marenwolf (Perth, Australia) ~ Unseen Transcended Borders

UWA Honourable Mention Prize for ARTISTRY (L$15,000): Ultraviolet Alter (Toulouse, South France) ~ The Embryo

UWA MACHIMIUWA VII AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION EVENT

Awards were given to audience members who most closely guessed the final judges’ results. 1st Place Award (L$20,000): Dyzo

3rd Place Award (L$10,000): Karima Hoisan

2nd Place Award (L$15,000): Lalie Sorbet

4th Place Award (L$7,500): Chic Aeon

5th Place Award (L$5,000): Elle Thorkveld

187

7th UWA International Short Film Challenge (MachinimUWA VII) Entries Alfonso Garavito Olivar (Florida, USA) ~ La profesora de lengua castella Aquaglo (Texas, USA) ~ Aqua ponders... Is there a way? Arrow Inglewood (Toronto, Canada) ~ Pas De Digital AvaJean Westland (New York City, USA) ~ Changes Babypea Von Phoenix & Masterperry (near Horsham, Victoria, Australia) ~ Silence Remains Boris Twist (Portland, Oregon, USA) ~ SORTIE: A film of the beautiful dark Braclo Eber (South African in Canada) ~ Beyond Chic Aeon (Corvallis, Oregon, USA) ~ The Ghost in the Machine Elizabeth Spieler (Seattle, USA) ~ Transcending Borders Elle Thorkveld (Connecticut, USA) ~ Frontiers Eric Takkar (New York, USA) & Arcane Marenwolf (Perth, Australia) ~ Unseen Transcended Borders Erythro Asimov (Tours, France) ~ The 6th Extinction Erythro Asimov (Tours, France) ~ Night of the Johnstown Flood Friday Siamendes (Denver, Colorado, USA) ~ Shuteye Glasz DeCuir (San Sebastian, Spain) ~ Disappear - Simulator Crossing GnomeZen (Ashland, Oregon, USA) ~ Transcendence GnomeZen (Ashland, Oregon, USA) ~ Transcending the Borders of Consciousness Haveit Neox (Los Angeles, USA) ~ Reading PrimChords Iono Allen (Paris, France) ~ Butchery jjccc Coronet (Talygarn, South Wales) ~ What a Wonderful World Joe Zazulak [Spiral Silverstar] (New Orleans, LA, USA) ~ Transcending (surreal) Borders

188

Lilia Artis (Berne Switzerland), Haveit Neox (Los Angeles, USA) & Moeuhane Sandalwood (Berne, Switzerland) ~ Striding - Unknown Roads Mexi Lane (Rome, Italy) ~ Mediterranean Misio2 (Melbourne, Australia) ~ Virtual Toy Island Plankton Natascha Randt (Gelsenkirchen, Germany) & Karima Hoisan (San Isidro del General, Costa Rica) ~ The Connection Nyle Bakerly (Vista, California, USA) & Tyrus Core (St. Louis, Missouri, USA) ~ Trapped in the Mansion Ormand Lionheart (Surrey, British Colombia, Canada) & Rachelle Raviprakash (France) ~ Reflection Pepa Cometa (Andalusia, Spain) ~ Little Marie Peter King (Chester, England, United Kingdom) ~ Crime Knows No Borders Sophia Hines (Paris, France) ~ Transcending Borders Sophia Yates (Boston, Massachusetts, USA) ~ Transcending Borders Sparrow Michigan (Newport, Kentucky, USA) ~ September Years Tutsy Navarathna (Frenchman in Pondicherry, India) ~ Metaphore - Transcending Borders Ultraviolet Alter (Toulouse, South France) ~ The Embryo Valentina Tremont (Milan, Italy) ~ Dreaming Valentina Tremont (Milan, Italy) ~ Imagination Valentina Tremont (Milan, Italy) ~ Sea and Mountain Vilvi Rae (Jyvaskylla, Finland) ~ No Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Land Yepar Saenz (The Island of Martinique, French Caribbean) ~ Delphine et Hippolyte

189

Alfonso Garavito Olivar (Florida, USA) ~ La profesora de lengua castella

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unGiqVYvR98

Aquaglo (Texas, USA) ~ Aqua ponders... Is there a way?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML9talj968U 190

Arrow Inglewood (Toronto, Canada) ~ Pas De Digital

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWwlygbKUrw

AvaJean Westland (New York City, USA) ~ Changes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo2irnjSOyw 191

Babypea Von Phoenix & Masterperry (near Horsham, Victoria, Australia) ~ Silence Remains

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAZTyjTA0Ng

Boris Twist (Portland, Oregon, USA) ~ SORTIE: A film of the beautiful dark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qaGmF81GL4 192

Braclo Eber (South African in Canada) ~ Beyond

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lZVHQiItzs

Chic Aeon (Corvallis, Oregon, USA) ~ The Ghost in the Machine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F6ru7tpi2Y 193

Elizabeth Spieler (Seattle, USA) ~ Transcending Borders

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE7bdM2Xcmc

Elle Thorkveld (Connecticut, USA) ~ Frontiers

http://vimeo.com/110613370 194

Eric Takkar (New York, USA) & Arcane Marenwolf (Perth, Australia) ~ Unseen Transcended Borders

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoZWfoZlHfc

Erythro Asimov (Tours, France) ~ The 6th Extinction

https://vimeo.com/108137919 195

Erythro Asimov (Tours, France) ~ Night of the Johnstown Flood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gETPXs0vnNc

Friday Siamendes (Denver, Colorado, USA) ~ Shuteye

http://vimeo.com/110752160 196

GnomeZen (Ashland, Oregon, USA) ~ Transcendence

http://youtu.be/_bYjU5YcZfo

GnomeZen (Ashland, Oregon, USA) ~ Transcending the Borders of Consciousness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k3bts_IXlk 197

Haveit Neox (Los Angeles, USA) ~ Reading PrimChords

http://vimeo.com/110587218

Iono Allen (Paris, France) ~ Butchery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_RsZCHzuZI 198

jjccc Coronet (Talygarn, South Wales) ~ What a Wonderful World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGcl607y2Gk

Joe Zazulak [Spiral Silverstar] (New Orleans, LA, USA) ~ Transcending (surreal) Borders

http://vimeo.com/108677118 199

Lilia Artis (Berne Switzerland), Haveit Neox (Los Angeles, USA) & Moeuhane Sandalwood (Berne, Switzerland) ~ Striding: Unknown Roads

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKO7pt_UCzI

Mexi Lane (Rome, Italy) ~ Mediterranean

http://youtu.be/jKbGIrK-_wI 200

Misio2 (Melbourne, Australia) ~ Virtual Toy Island Plankton

http://youtu.be/XTUzjT22RRo

Natascha Randt (Gelsenkirchen, Germany) & Karima Hoisan (San Isidro del General, Costa Rica) ~ The Connection

https://youtu.be/gKO7pt_UCzI 201

Nyle Bakerly (Vista, California, USA) & Tyrus Core (St. Louis, Missouri, USA) ~ Trapped in the Mansion

http://youtu.be/bO3uLtO_XNE

Ormand Lionheart (Surrey, British Colombia, Canada) & Rachelle Raviprakash (France) ~ Reflection

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlC3JFjf4FI 202

Pepa Cometa (Andalusia, Spain) ~ Little Marie

http://vimeo.com/109180780

Peter King (Chester, England, United Kingdom) ~ Crime Knows No Borders

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFdRWnQV7BI 203

Sophia Hines (Paris, France) ~ Transcending Borders

http://youtu.be/GreqQON7UCU

Sophia Yates (Boston, Massachusetts, USA) ~ Transcending Borders

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNVLCrkmAgA 204

Sparrow Michigan (Newport, Kentucky, USA) ~ September Years

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vGpDZcl-QQ

Tutsy Navarathna (Frenchman in Pondicherry, India) ~ Metaphore - Transcending Borders

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zby0oM5xqaE 205

Ultraviolet Alter (Toulouse, South France) ~ The Embryo

http://vimeo.com/110502230

Valentina Tremont (Milan, Italy) ~ Dreaming

http://vimeo.com/vtvideostudio 206

Valentina Tremont (Milan, Italy) ~ Imagination

http://vimeo.com/vtvideostudio

Valentina Tremont (Milan, Italy) ~ Sea and Mountain

http://vimeo.com/vtvideostudio 207

Vilvi Rae (Jyvaskylla, Finland) ~ No Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Land

http://vimeo.com/110528078

Yepar Saenz (The Island of Martinique, French Caribbean) ~ Delphine et Hippolyte

http://youtu.be/PrHQkG8VE8U 208