Heckler & Artist Brooklyn Whelan Team Up For Samsung VR Activation At Splendour
Exploring the boundaries of where art and technology collide, Heckler and Sydney-based contemporary artist Brooklyn Whelan teamed up to bring fine art to virtual reality life for Secret Sounds Connect, in support of Samsung’s latest sponsorship activation at this year’s Splendour in the Grass.
To promote Samsung’s new S8 handset offering, partnership division Secret Sounds Connect on behalf of Splendour in the Grass approached Heckler with the brief to create an on-site experience that would have festivalgoers immersed inside the art world of Brooklyn Whelan, a Samsung #ToTheMakers ambassador.
Coming up with a narrative that would keep viewers focused and entertained for the entire virtual experience, Heckler VFX supervisor Tom Corbett was determined to push the tech boundaries of the Samsung VR set and to re-create one of Whelan’s dreamy, multi-media artworks to a large and immersive scale.
Primarily a fine artist whose work is displayed in traditional art galleries, Whelan took to the opportunity to showcase his art in a unique, purpose-built environment surrounded by over 32,500 music festivalgoers.
“As an artist, being able to turn my artwork into a living landscape really appealed to me,” Whelan said.
“Taking my analogue work into the digital realm was definitely an exciting part of the journey, and working with Tom was a breeze. Embracing VR for the first time alongside someone whose vision I trust was an exciting experiment I hope to repeat.”
Brooklyn Whelan
Corbett said: “Having followed his career for over 10 years, I had a good understanding of his art. Working with Brooklyn as both the artist and director meant we could really follow through on his vision for the project.
“It’s not often you get the chance to work with an artist and with Samsung on something as new and exciting as VR.”
For Secret Sounds Connect creative director Jeremy Hancock, surrounding Splendour in the Grass with satellite cultures that help to tell a bigger story and support the ethos of the music festival meant that approaching Whelan for this partnership with Samsung was an easy decision.
“Brooklyn comes from the absolute ground zero of counter culture and never strays from the path, which is also one of the pillars that Splendour is built upon,” Hancock said.
“His authenticity is one of the reasons behind why we got behind this project, and why the end result really resonated with our pop culture savvy festival audience.”
CREDITS
Client: Secret Sounds Connect
Group creative director: Jeremy Hancock
Managing director of commercial rights and brand services: Kristy Rosser
Strategic partnership director: Nicole Lembeke
Senior producer: Leighroy Merrick
Festival partner: Samsung
Artist and director: Brooklyn Whelan
Production company: Heckler
VFX supervisor: Tom Corbett
Head of production: Aborah Buick
Executive producer: Will Alexander
Latest News
Medallia Appoints Heather Paterson As ANZ Country Manager
Medallia has appointed Heather Paterson as its new ANZ country manager to drive further growth across Australia and New Zealand. With a strong sales performance and leadership background, Paterson joins Medallia as ANZ country manager following more than seven years with leading SaaS financial technology provider, Intralinks, where she was most recently director for Asia […]
Spikes Asia Brings Spikes Awards Forward To February 2021
Spikes Asia today announces that the 2021 awards will take place in February, bringing them forward to the first quarter of the year. Judging for the Spikes Asia Awards, the region’s most prestigious creative branded communications accolade, as well as the Tangrams Awards and Young Spikes competitions will all take place in February 2021. In […]
Finalists In Round One Of 2020 Australian Effie Awards Announced
Following a rigorous round of online judging by 133 industry experts, The Communications Council today announced that 88 finalists from 24 agencies on behalf of 36 clients have made it into Round Two of the Australian Effie Awards. Finalists will now compete for Effies, Australia’s only awards based on proven advertising effectiveness – across 26 […]
IAS And Channel Factory ‘Channel Science’
Integral Ad Science (IAS) today announced the launch of “Channel Science”, an industry-leading partnership between Channel Factory and IAS. The Channel Science solution helps advertisers to leverage both companies’ technologies through a single product to ensure their YouTube campaigns are brand-safe, brand-suitable, and performance-optimized. More than ever before, advertisers are searching for ways to streamline their media buying and improve […]
WPP AUNZ Launches Secrets & Lies Podcast Series
WPP AUNZ has launched its inaugural podcast series, led by WPP AUNZ Chief Strategy Officer, Rose Herceg (pictured). The podcast series will focus on the company’s recent thought leadership study: Secrets & Lies Chapter 4, Humanity & the Machine. Aired over the next few weeks, each discussion will take a deep dive into exploring the role […]
Google Presses Play On Programmatic Audio
If CV-19's given us anything, it's more podcasts than you could listen to in 1000 lifetimes. Monetise yours with this.
10’s Axing Fallout: Kerri-Anne Calls It “Heartbreaking”
Grant Denyer to host the news, weather, The Project, The Bachie, Family Feud & Saturday Night Rove following 10's cuts.
Indie Agency Hardhat Wins Vision Australia Creative Account
Hardhat celebrates Vision Australia win with a VB case & Jägermeister. Thankfully, no reports of anyone getting blind.
Prince Harry Compares Social Media And Online Advertising To Lead Paint
The errant Royal has weighed in to the advertising debate. His grandmother apparently still hates his wife, however.
Tuesday TV Wrap: Masked Singer Already On The Up Following Okayish Debut
Forget all about yesterday's kerfuffle, declares 10; instead look at these big, new, shiny numbers over here instead.
Westpac Group Partners With Verizon Media DSP For Omnichannel Solution
Westpac Group today announced it has partnered with Verizon Media’s Omnichannel DSP across its entire brand portfolio including Westpac Bank, St George Bank, Bank of Melbourne and Bank of South Australia. The new partnership gives Westpac Group access to Verizon Media’s end-to-end strategic marketing and planning capabilities including: first-party data based audience insights; full-service omnichannel […]
Mark Lollback Joins The Foodbank Australia Board
Mark Lollback proves he's Mr Nice Guy. Although, Mrs Lollback wishes he'd turn his socks in the right way before wash.
Now That’s Whopper Protection! You Can Now Get Your Burger King Order Printed Directly Onto A Face Mask
Burger King face masks not only provide CV-19 protection, it also protects against that vile stench in its restaurants.
Adobe Analytics Adds Mobile App
If there's anything to be said about the Adobe company, it doesn't sit on it laurels. Discover its latest gizmo here.
Nova Cuts 70 Employees Amid Pandemic
All B&T will say here is, whoever decided having Szechuan bat for dinner was a good idea has a LOT to answer for.
Introducing The Women Leading Tech Product Finalists
B&T doesn't like the phrase "stellar line-up", but it's been forced upon us with these Women Leading Tech finalists.
Barbra Streisand Lends Voice To Campaign Calling On The LGBTQI+ To Oust Trump
One need only attend the B&T staff interoffice karaoke competition to know of our unflinching affection for Babs.
“The Value Needs To Be There For Everyone”: Osher Günsberg On The Three-Way Exchange Of TV Show Sponorship
Thankfully, Osher was spared 10's purge yesterday. Otherwise B&T would look like right fools wheeling this out today.
Sleep Apnoea Tackled In Witty Work From ResApp Health & Isobar
Sleep apnoea ranks alongside haemorrhoids and constipation in the humour stakes, so it's hats off to the agency here.
Man Of Many Appoints Tim Fernandes As Sales & Partnerships Manager
Man Of Many announces new sales and partnerships manager who, without even a hint of irony, is actually a man.
“Simply Disingenuous!” Coles Challenged Over Its Decision To Phase Out Its Printed Catalogue
When it came to the artistic nuances of raw sausage photography, nothing could hold a candle to the Coles catalogue.
Major Stars Including Kerri-Anne Kennerley & Tim Bailey To Go As 10 Announces Major Restructure
Network 10 is set to undergo a massive restructure, leaving a number of high-profile journalists out of a job, including Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Natarsha Belling and Tim Bailey, B&T understands. As first reported on The Sydney Morning Herald, the restructure was announced to staff on Tuesday. As part of the restructuring, the presentation of the weekday […]
The Alcohol & Drug Foundation Team With Dee Madigan’s Campaign Edge To Tackle CV-19 Drinking
Concious of our own drinking habits at B&T during lockdown, "margarita hour" has been moved from 10.30am to 10.45am.
How To Get Out Of A Cashflow Crisis
Here's top tips on getting out of a cashflow crisis that don't include robbing the kids' moneyboxes or a 7-Eleven store.
BWM Dentsu’s Haystac Launches As The Social Relations Agency
Haystac relaunches as a "social relations agency" which, it's quick to stress, doesn't include a match-making component.
Another Win For The Hindus As Ganesh Mini Skirt Latest To Face The Chop
If B&T has become anything, it's now your one-stop-show for the latest angry Hindu news.
Nielsen Data: ABC Tops Digital News Rankings
'Wood Whittlers Weekly' and 'The Pigeon Fancier Gazette' shock omissions from latest Nielsen news site rankings.
Victorian Government Rolls Out Sobering COVID-19 Campaign Via M&C Saatchi Melbourne
It's yet another sobering CV-19 ad, amid reports the Grim Reaper's publicist is starting to field some genuine interest.
Dating App Thanks Masturbators For Resisting Lockdown Sex In Colourful New Campaign
Here at B&T we strongly endorse the notion that chronic masturbation sends you blind. Hence our white stick & Labrador.
Switch Digital Nabs Simonds Homes Account
Switch Digital snares Simonds Homes account which, B&T can confirm, is no way affiliated with Mr Red Symons.
