Flinders University: Immersive VR collaboration at The Void

South Australians will be able to experience the life cycle of a butterfly like never before, with an immersive virtual and augmented reality artwork developed through a collaboration at Flinders University’s The Void unveiled across the CBD.

Herding Caterpillars is part of Adelaide’s CreaTech City Challenge – an initiative funded by the South Australian Government, the City of Adelaide and the Adelaide Economic Development Agency.

Presented by Butterfly Conservation SA, Flinders University’s The Void, and creative producer Rosina Possingham, the augmented reality (AR) experience is featuring the Chequered Copper Butterfly – a recently re-discovered species found in Adelaide’s Southern Parklands.

Herding Caterpillars kicks off alongside the launch of the 10-day Nature Festival on October 6, will be available throughout the festival and involves a trail of three sculptures located throughout the Adelaide CBD, which visitors can interact with via their smart phones.

From 14 to 16 October, the State Library of South Australia will host the Herding Caterpillars VR experience featuring a 360-degree recording of butterflies, plants and ants interacting – delivered through supplied VR headsets.

Herding Caterpillars is one of three projects that uses highly visible creative technology (CreaTech) artworks to help revitalise the city as the state recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.