On Wednesday, November 27th, the Emerging Media Lab was thrilled to host Pierre Friquet, award-winning digital creator and XR artist currently residing in France. Winner of awards at the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, Kaleidoscope Festival, and Filmgate Festival, Pierre’s latest project, Captain Nemo, uses VR to increase ocean literacy, using stunning visuals, immersive soundscapes, and captivating interaction mechanics to illustrate the interdependence of our environment.
Beginning with a brief overview of Ocean literacy, Pierre guided attendees through the importance of Captain Nemo, discussing the environmental impact of things like over-fishing, hunting, and other non-sustainable practices. He then introduced us to his project: a waterproof VR headset that allows for users to experience the coral reefs, exotic diving locations, or even floating in space, all from the comfort of their own home. This serves a dual purpose, allowing users to explore a variety of locations while also ensuring the fish and the natural landscape of the ocean remain unharmed.
Pierre has finished his fellowship in Vancouver, and will now be returning to France to continue to work on his VR immersive experiences. To learn more about Pierre’s work, visit his website here!
Special thanks to the French Consulate for their support.
