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Revival Roadshow

Poster Revival Roadshow by Anne Fehres and Luke Conroy

TRAILER REVIVAL ROADSHOW

"Revival Roadshow" is a 17-minute, 3-DoF virtual reality (VR) experience that seamlessly blends art, cinema, theatre, and immersive sound to examine colonial legacies and their influence on contemporary and future cultures. The narrative centres on the speculative revival of Abel Tasman, a 17th-century Dutch explorer, intimately connected to the filmmakers' backgrounds in both the Netherlands and Tasmania—the island named in his honour.

 

In this virtual reality experience, you are transported to a museum in a speculative future, where a mysterious artwork awaits appraisal. The piece features a colonial figure clad in gold, standing triumphantly in a dystopian, plastic wasteland. The figure gazes outward, clutching a Dutch flag while resting one foot on a lifeless animal. As the narrative unfolds, an explanation of this curious artwork emerges, leading you through a series of surreal scenes rich in detail, colour, and overlapping narratives.

 

A key feature of this experience is the use of directional audio, which allows you to control the narrative by shifting your gaze. As you explore each 360° scene, the direction of your gaze will reveal multiple, intertwining storylines. What begins as an appraisal of a mysterious artwork soon expands into a complex world of multiple truths, exposing not only the contested nature of storytelling but also your role within it. This single artwork generates as many questions as answers. Imagine it as a blend of Antiques Roadshow, speculative fiction, and a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ experience.

COMMENT

Taking the legacy of 17th century Dutch explorer Abel Tasman as its point of departure, Revival Roadshow takes its audience on a surreal journey through a variety of narratives that explore the complexities of colonial history, its present and potential future legacies. Blending cinema, theatre and visual art, this absurd, humorous and speculative roadshow allows each viewer to experience their own unique journey.

Koen de Rooij / International Film Festival Rotterdam 2025

This project is supported by:

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  • vimeo
  • Instagram
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