Imagine stepping into a realm where the colossal guardians of Earth's most diverse and pristine ecosystems converge in an awe-inspiring symphony of life and wisdom.
GAIA:
Guardians of Earth
An Apple Vision Pro experience
The Experience
"GAIA, guardians of earth" is a groundbreaking app for the Apple Vision Pro that immerses users in the heart of Earth's most pristine ecosystems. Harnessing the power of visionOS, the app creates a photorealistic forest where users can interact with towering trees, each with its own unique story to tell. Through intuitive hand tracking and gesture recognition, users explore the trees in three distinct layers, gaining a profound scientific understanding of the intricate web of life. The app seamlessly integrates educational content, allowing users to delve into the fascinating biology and ecology of these magnificent beings. By harnessing the power of immersive technology, we aim to inspire users to become stewards of the Earth, empowering them to make a positive impact on the planet.
Layers of experience
1: Photorealism - The day/night cycle
The first layer shows the tree we are most familiar with. This encompasses its physical presence in size and stature, the way light filters through the canopy to illuminate the colour and texture of its bark, and the rippling of its leaves in the wind. Because light is so central to the way we perceive the tree at this objective level, Layer 1 highlights the effect of natural sunlight on the tree’s physical form by recreating the cycle of day to night, and night to day. This photorealistic layer is built around drone-captured photogrammetry scans.
2: Science - The carbon cycle
Layer 2 takes the user behind the superficial exterior of the tree. The user is transported into the tree’s teeming inner life, discovering the dynamic scientific processes that lie beneath the tree’s seemingly static existence. Drawing on conversations with leading scientists, Layer 2 uses virtual reality to reveal the carbon cycle (the respiration of the tree, the transfer of water, photosynthesis) and the sharing of nutrients through the sophisticated mycelial network underground. Owing to input from foremost scholars in plant physiology, the animations rendered in Layer 2 are evidence-based and scientifically robust.
3: Spiritual & Cultural - Indigenous world view
In this final stage, the elements of the physical world fall away and the user is plunged into a parallel plane of spirit and emotion. The purpose of this layer is to offer a portal into the indigenous worldview. In this layer the emphasis is on co-development and co-creation of the work with the indigenous communities from which each Monumental tree comes. In this worldview, “the trees are our brothers,” their lives intimately connected with ours. This is a realm of interconnectivity, where consciousness is reimagined. Layer 3 brings the experience full-circle by inviting comparison with the user’s own inner world, beneath the physical self we can see.
About the Artist
Joseph Michael specialises in large-scale installations, and has produced multiple innovative and groundbreaking projects. He is highly motivated by developing and integrating new technology, and experimenting with it to achieve his vision.
Michael's 'Antarctica - While You Were Sleeping' series, launched in 2016, culminated in a spectacular 2019 installation at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This project, transforming the building into a giant iceberg, coincided with the UN Climate Action Summit and featured climate activists including Greta Thunberg.
The UN installation garnered global media attention, including a CNN broadcast reaching 384 million households. Michael's work has earned critical acclaim and awards, establishing him as a visionary artist merging technology and nature.
Eco-Art Nightscapes:
Showcasing Sustainability Through Apple Store Installations
Michael proposes transforming flagship Apple Stores with "Eco-Art Nightscapes" - immersive, nature-inspired installations that showcase the Vision Pro's capabilities. These takeovers blend cutting-edge technology with environmental artistry, creating a powerful synergy between Apple's innovation and ecological consciousness.
Imagine store windows adorned with large-scale, illuminated tree-inspired art, while interiors feature interactive displays that respond to Vision Pro. Visitors can explore virtual nature retreats, offering urban dwellers a chance to connect with nature without leaving the city. These installations allow customers to experience breathtaking virtual environments that highlight our ecosystem's beauty and fragility.
By leveraging art and technology, Apple positions the Vision Pro as a tool for both entertainment and education. This approach not only demonstrates the device's capabilities but also inspires users to explore and protect the world around them, reinforcing Apple's commitment to environmental awareness and sustainability.
TV series: Roots of Connection
"Roots of Connection" is an engaging and visually stunning TV series that delves into the captivating journey of Joseph Michael as he embarks on a groundbreaking art installation project. This mesmerizing series chronicles the creation of an epic art installation that explores humanity's profound physical, biological, and cultural connections to trees. With an unyielding commitment to both art and science, Michael collaborates closely with a diverse group of scientists and indigenous leaders to unravel the intricate web of connections between trees and human existence.
Example episode;
"Dreamtime Whispers: Journey to the Australian Outback"
In this culturally immersive episode of "Roots of Connection," Joseph Michael embarks on a transformative expedition to the heart of the Australian Outback, seeking wisdom and inspiration from the Aboriginal communities deeply intertwined with the land. The episode's central focus is the profound significance of trees within Aboriginal culture and the powerful connections between these indigenous communities and the natural world.
The episode begins with Joseph's arrival in the remote and breathtaking landscapes of the Outback, where the ancient eucalyptus trees stand sentinel. He encounters local Aboriginal leaders, who generously share their traditions, stories, and spiritual connections to these magnificent trees. Through their teachings, Joseph gains an intimate understanding of the Dreamtime, the Aboriginal concept of creation, and how it weaves into their intricate relationship with the land.
Joseph's artistic journey in this episode revolves around creating a breathtaking representation of an iconic eucalyptus tree within the art installation. He collaborates with local Aboriginal artists to ensure that the artwork embodies the essence of the Dreamtime and the deep respect for nature's harmony.
other episodes :
“Sequoia Sentinels: Guardians of Time”
“Majestic Samauma: Exploring the Amazon”
“Cedars of Ancestry: A Middle Eastern Odyssey”
“Beneath the Baobab: South Africa’s Living Legacy”
“Kauri Chronicles: Guardians of Aotearoa”
In our pilot documentary below, as Joseph Michael explores our physical, biological and cultural links to trees in conversation with scientists and indigenous leaders in the Amazon rainforest.
Directed by Jen Raoult - Format: 4K - Runtime: 19:05min
Who’s involved
Joseph Michael, Artist
Joseph Michael is a visual artist and photographer based in Auckland, New Zealand, widely known for his large scale installations fusing technology and art. Joseph is a has created nearly 20 unique installations to date, and is currently Artist in residence at Auckland University of Technology AUT and an Edmond Hillary Fellow.
Sônia Guajajara
Sônia Guajajara, is a Brazilian indigenous activist, environmentalist, and politician. Guajajara is the leader of the Articulação dos Povos Indígenas do Brasil (Articulation of the Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, or "APIB"), an organization that represents around 300 indigenous ethnic groups in Brazil.
Antonio Donato Nobre, Scientist
Antonio Donato Nobre is an esteemed scientist and researcher at Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (National Institute of Amazonian Research, INPA). Antonio is one of the most well-known academics in Brazil. Lead academic on projects in the Amazon involving more than 1000 scientists globally. His work has over 8000 citations, and earned him a current h-index of 42.
Amazon Film, Film Production Partner
World renowned, production service, contributing to the strengthening of the Amazon region’s image in Brazil and worldwide through great productions that we did serviced or produced to BBC, Discovery Channel, Nat Geo, Animal Planet , among others. Ftom research to scouting services, logistics, equipment rental, transportation, customs, visas, filming permits, working permit for foreign teams (ANCINE) and through other Brazilian authorities. Specialising in remote locations in the Amazon.
Igor Botelho Bernardes, Producer
Is dedicated to generating more life on Planet Earth as a Regeneration and Social Impact entrepreneur, Innovation Strategy senior specialist, Organisational consultant and Speaker. Founder and CEO of Ferttil Ecosystem and Help New Zealand.
Ninawa Inu Huni Kui, Leader of the indigenous Huni Kui people
Ninawa Inu Huni Kui is a change-maker and committed campaigner for the vital issues impacting indigenous communities.
Ninawa was recently featured in an EarthX documentary alongside other indigenous speakers and allies including legendary environmentalist Jane Goodall.
Peter McMenamin, Producer
Peter McMenamin has brought together a number of Joseph's installations, notably executing the financial production of Antarctica - while you were sleeping at the United Nations in New York City.
Weta Gameshop, Development Partner
Weta game studio was established in 2014 by an experienced team of game developers and film veterans. Based in Wellington, New Zealand, are passionate about making incredible experiences. They have created content for platforms spanning PC, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Wii, Android, iOS, Magic Leap, Oculus, HTC Vive, and web browsers and have worked for globally-renowned companies including Disney, Nintendo, Fox, Universal, and Hasbro.
Helen Klisser During, Advisor
Helen Klisser During is an art advisor who has championed global art projects for over 25 years. Helen has curated hundreds of exhibitions which have been at the forefront of the contemporary art world, for example, exhibiting Christo’s ideas for The Gates project three years before it was realized in Central Park. An art world insider, Helen nurtures relationships among individuals and institutions to create significant cultural initiatives.
Benki Piyãko, Ashaninka leader
Benki Piyãko is an indigenous Ashaninka leader and shaman who works for the rights of indigenous peoples and the preservation of nature. Benki Piyãko is the ambassador of a paradigm shift in cultural, environmental and pacifist activism and his interventions have brought with them the potential for great transformation of the world. As a cultural and environmental activist as well as a pacifist spiritual leader from the depths of the Amazon,
Dr Tatiana Schor, Scientist
Dr Tatiana Schor is a leading researcher in environmental sciences and the Amazon teaching at Universidade de São Paulo and UFAM (Universidade Federal do Amazonas). Tatiana is also Executive Secretary of Science, Technology and Innovation at SEDECTI (Amazonas Government).
Art Science Lab, Science and Technology Partner
The ArtScience Lab is a dynamic cross-pollination space where purpose and cutting edge technology connect art, culture, academia, industry, conservation and philanthropy. It is a place where multidisciplinary artists, innovators and industry experts combine to solve real-world challenges and transform the way we experience our natural and urban environments.
Conceptual Development
Arko has collaborated with industry specialists and world leading production studios in New Zealand, Brazil, Germany and the USA to build a digital tree repository of the Amazon rainforest. Specifically, the team has developed expertise in capturing LiDAR, multispectral data and drone-captured photogrammetry.
Arko’s previous international installations and activations have closely aligned and been sponsored by a number of international companies including Nikon, Samsung and Musto. We have also developed close relationships with Unreal Engine’s partner companies, Capturing Reality and Disguise.
The design process began in 2018, when New Zealand-based creative agency Arko started working with a number of creatives including Kelvin Loh, Steven Lambert and Weta Workshop to produce the previsualisation compositions.
The starting objective is to recreate the experience of walking in the Amazon rainforest for an urban audience, successfully achieving its uniquely captivating sense of scale. This goal has driven the project through the initial iterations of data collection and design which now position the artwork to be developed into something incredible.
For Creative Director Joseph Michael, who lived in Brazil for four years, designing this digital artwork means building a virtual world that will allow people to commune with the Amazon rainforest in a magical way. By using groundbreaking technology to place users in the heart of the Amazon, the aim is to create an artwork that offers a virtual crossing into the “unseen realm,” the subsurface universe where the spacetime division between humans and the natural world collapses.
Monumental Trees
Each of the monumental trees featured in this installation is carefully selected for their profound ecological and cultural significance, as well as their ties to conservation and indigenous rights awareness movements.
Each of these trees is a beacon of hope, symbolizing the urgent need to conserve Earth's biodiversity. Through this installation, we invite viewers to join the global chorus advocating for the preservation of these magnificent giants and the diverse cultures that depend on them.
USA - Sequoiadendron giganteum
In the context of a changing climate, the California sequoia serves as both a sentinel and a symbol, is chosen to highlight the urgent need for the preservation of endangered giants in their native habitat.
Brazil - Ceiba pentandra
This majestic Amazonian rainforest giant, representing the heart of Earth's biodiversity, underscores the critical importance of protecting these vulnerable ecosystems and the indigenous communities that have long served as their stewards.
Australia - Eucalyptus camaldulensis
The remote desert tree from the Australian outback embodies the tenacity of life in harsh conditions, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to protect unique and threatened landscapes while recognizing the spiritual connection of the Aboriginal people to their ancestral lands.
New Zealand - Agathis australis
The giant Kauri tree from Aotearoa serves as a beacon of endurance, mirroring the dedication of the Maori people to protect their native flora and fauna. These magnificent trees, towering in the lush forests of New Zealand, not only symbolize endurance but also serve as a poignant reminder of the ongoing battle against a devastating and deadly disease known as Kauri dieback.
Lebanon - Cedrus libani
These ancient and resilient trees have been revered for centuries and hold a special place in the hearts of many, they symbolise the intricate balance between human interactions with nature, the stewardship of our ancient arboreal heritage, and the profound interconnection of ecosystems and cultures that bind our world together.
South Africa - Adansonia digitata
Standing proudly as one of the largest and oldest baobabs in the world, the Sagole Baobab symbolizes the interconnectedness of ecosystems, indigenous traditions, and our commitment to conservation. bearing witness to countless stories, songs, and rituals passed down through generations.
