Creating immersive nature-inspired experiences with Joel Zika

In this interview Joel Zika talks about the creative process behind “Valley of a Thousand Plants”. “Valley of a Thousand Plants" is an immersive installation that surrounds audiences with hyper-real animated plant forms that react to visitors' proximity. The installation is hosted at the Cube at the Multi-Arts Pavilion in Lake Macquarie, NSW, a 360-degree immersive digital projection space. Joel Zika is a multimedia artist and educator currently teaching at Kent State University. He has a background in VR projects, documentaries, interactive animations, and public installations. During the interview Joel briefly discusses his PhD research on dark rides in amusement parks, exploring how the history of indoor ride design can inform contemporary media production.    Highlights (6:01) The social dynamics of amusement parks and digital experiences (8:55) Interactive art installations with sensor-activated plant animations (19:28) Creating interactive spaces with simple tech (29:08) Collaborative creativity About Joel Zika  Dr. Joel Zika is an immersive media expert with a Ph.D. from Swinburne University in Melbourne  He is currently teaching at Kent State University, where he continues to inspire the next generation of media artists. With over 15 years of experience, his work spans virtual reality films, documentaries, and public installations, showcased globally at venues like the Moss Arts Center and Dark Mofo. An educator at institutions such as Deakin and RMIT Universities, Zika also speaks at global events like South By Southwest. A key aspect of his research is the application of game engines for the location-based entertainment sector and virtual production. Links from the interview with Joel Zika    Learn more about the Valley of a 1000 plants Visit the  Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima website  Learn more about Collide Public Art Visit the Joel Zika website  Follow Joel Zika on Instagram

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