Meet the curious characters of Beings: ACMI’s playful world premiere experience by Universal Everything opens May 22

Meet the curious characters of Beings: ACMI’s playful world premiere experience by Universal Everything opens May 22

Endless play abounds at ACMI this winter, as world premiere exhibition Beings comes alive on 22 May to 29 September 2024. Comprised of 13 artworks drawn from the 20-year career of international art and design collective Universal Everything – including the premiere of four brand new artworks – Beings features an assortment of curious characters born from code.

Move, dance and play to bring captivating creatures to life on large-scale screens, then be hypnotised by vibrant projected artworks that experiment with movement, emotion and colour. Visitors can also learn about the creative process and innovative technology behind the artworks, with hand-drawn sketches on display for the first time.

Springing to life from a single drawn line into a crowd of fantastical creatures, Universal Everything artworks use emerging display technologies as their canvas. They produce vast digital artworks that subvert cinematic CGI, physics simulations and real-time gaming graphics – typically used by Hollywood studios and videogame makers – to craft new forms of moving image.

Created from ever-evolving algorithms, generative installations grow and change in real-time – responding differently to every visitor, every time they visit.

ACMI Director & CEO Seb Chan said: “This is technology with heart and soul. Innovative, interactive, and enriching, Universal Everything’s joyous creations bring warmth and a sense of humanity. Whether you have an eye for design, an interest in new tech or are simply looking for some fun, this family-friendly experience will leave you with a smile. ACMI is the home of endless play this winter – no two visits to Beings will be the same.”

Universal Everything Founder Matt Pyke said: “I relish this opportunity to push our studio practice even further, with some never-before-seen artworks created for Melbourne audiences. And as ever, I’m looking forward to being surprised by unexpected visitor responses to the show. We hope they have lots of fun.”

Minister for Creative Industries, the Hon. Colin Brooks MP said: “ACMI continues to lead the way by bringing together art and technology to create immersive experiences for everyone to enjoy. We’re proud to back this world premiere exhibition which will be part of an action-packed winter season of creativity in Melbourne.”

Universal Everything was founded in 2004 by Creative Director Matt Pyke. Beginning in his garden studio in Sheffield, England, Universal Everything has grown into a global network of architects, engineers, designers, cinematographers, animators, musicians and developers.

The collective has exhibited their distinctive works around the world, from Seoul to New York, London and beyond. Their collaborations include generative audio-visual apps with Radiohead, interactive spaces with Zaha Hadid Architects and future R&D with Apple.

Beings includes the world premiere of four brand new artworks, including two interactive installations currently in development, and artworks created with choreographer Benjamin Millepied and the LA Dance Project.

Beings will be complemented by a suite of public programs over winter: late nights; a contemporary dance series featuring Melbourne choreographers, including Rebecca Jensen and Sarah Aiken; school holiday activities; and ACMI Preschoolers – interactive, movement and play-based sessions for children aged three to five years.

Schools can take advantage of this joyful experience to inspire creativity and innovation amongst students. Education resources will provide practical ideas for primary and secondary teachers to support a fun excursion, focusing on character design, imaginative writing, and playful creative arts activities.

Beings runs 22 May to 29 September in ACMI’s Gallery 4. Tickets go on sale to the general public on 19 April, with early access for ACMI Members and school groups. For further details visit acmi.net.au.

Beings is proudly supported by Major Technology Partner Panasonic, Major Research Partner RMIT University and Supporting Partners City of Melbourne and Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• Images, GIFs and video files are available to download here.
• For further media enquiries please contact Stephanie.payne@acmi.net.au.

Beings
22 May – 29 September 2024
Gallery 4, ACMI, Fed Square, Melbourne
acmi.net.au

Ticketing Information
Tickets on sale to the general public on 19 April 2024. Prices range from $7 - $20. To book visit acmi.net.au.

Full tickets $20 with substantial discounts for under 35s, concession, students, ACMI Members, school groups and under 16s. Children Under 4 and Blak Members are FREE.

ABOUT ACMI
ACMI is Australia’s national museum of screen culture. The museum reopened in February 2021 after a two-year, $40 million redevelopment – an architectural, programmatic and technological transformation. Navigate the universe of film, TV, videogames and art with us. ACMI celebrates the wonder and power of the world’s most democratic artform – fostering the next generation of makers, players and watchers. ACMI’s vibrant calendar of exhibitions, screenings, commissions, festivals, and industry and education programs explore the stories, technologies and artists that create our shared screen culture. More at acmi.net.au.

ABOUT UNIVERSAL EVERYTHING
Universal Everything is a collective of media artists, experience designers and future makers, established in 2004. A life affirming, future positive, audience focused approach spans their artworks, brand collaborations and prototypes. The studio repurposes the seductive language of modernist design and high-gloss consumerist style into a vibrant, graphic aesthetic. Through this stylised, playful approach, they explore new forms in design, architecture, nature and digital life. Using emerging display technologies as their canvas, the studio creates digital experiences that subvert cinematic CGI, physics simulations and real-time generative design to create new forms of moving image, interaction and immersive spaces. The studio has exhibited solo shows at V&A London,180 Strand and Science Museum London, La Gaite Lyrique Paris and Borusan Contemporary Istanbul. Group shows include those at MOMA New York, Sundance Film Festival and The Barbican, London. Alongside their artistic practise, the studio engages in brand collaborations including future R&D with Apple, immersive spaces with Hyundai, generative audiovisual apps with Radiohead, and interactive spaces with Zaha Hadid Architects. Universal Everything artworks have been added to the permanent collections of organisations including ZKM, Thoma Foundation, Borusan Contemporary and Sifang Art Museum.
www.universaleverything.com