Imagine global co-operation for a global problem. Imagine corals as the barometer of climate change. Imagine we are the pivot point.

Imagine Rekindling Venus.

“When the last transit season occurred the intellectual world was awakening from the slumber of ages, and that wondrous scientific activity which has led to our present advanced knowledge was just beginning. What will be the state of science when the next transit season arrives God only knows.”

—William Harkness 1882

Next Transit of Venus
in 17 Days

REKINDLING VENUS
is a colony of artworks using digital platforms to connect us to the world's coral reefs and the ecological urgency of climate change.

Devised by immersive installation artist Lynette Wallworth, ReKindling Venus: In Plain Sight is the first stage of this work planned to culminate with the next Transit of Venus in June 2012. It is an augmented reality (AR) project triggered by a series of images and delivered to mobile phones and webcam, opening a virtual porthole to coral reefs and connected to real-time data.

ReKindling Venus brings a focus to the complexity of coral ecosystems around the world as they attempt to deal with increasing environmental stresses. In the lead up to June 2012, ReKindling Venus invites you to join a network of people around the world who are holding the coral In PlainSight, showing it's colours in your workplace, in your home and allowing you to connect daily to the immediate threat confronting these incredible, fragile ecosystems.

Sea Temperature Alerts Visualisation

This real time data visualisation presents reefs at risk of coral bleaching. Remotely sensed data gives an awareness of abnormally high sea surface temperatures (SST) compared to seasonal averages.

Coupled with the intensity and duration of these higher temperatures: HotSpot (HS) measures intensity in °C above summer maximum temperature , and degree heating weeks (DHW) indicate the duration of these heating events. For example one DHW equals a week where the recorded HotSpot is 1° greater than the expected summertime maximum.

These factors along with other conditions inform the potential risk of coral reef bleaching events however do not categorically confirm bleaching is occurring.

NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program

Devised and directed by Lynette Wallworth. Producer Sue Maslin.

Mobile AR Developers Mark Billinghurst, Jacob Ervin, Shunsuke Fukuden HITLabNZ. Mike Scherrer, Additional Digital Artist. Website Development and Interaction Design Consultant Pete Brundle, Nice Device. Photographer Kim Batterham. AFTRS. Website AR Developer Paul Kouppas, Explore Engage. Website Design Aaron Moodie & Colin Trechter, People Collective. Data Visualisation Greg More, OOM Creative. Identity design Michaela Webb & Rhys Gorgol, Studio Round. 3D modelling Digital Artist Dan Thompson, Trailer Editor Wayne Lewis, Project Manager Jenny Zeiher, Rising Sun Pictures. Trailer voice performance Tanya Tagaq. Sound editor Bronwyn Murphy. Sound mixer Greg Fitzgerald. Identity image Jeff Rottman. Poster Design William Head. Coral specimens courtesy of Dr. Anya Salih, Confocal Bio-imaging Facility University of Western Sydney. Data Feeds NOAA Coral Reef Watch. Project Manager Jess Allison, That Mob. Producers Assistant Penelope Chai. Lightbox Design Andrew Livingston, Bluebottle. Adelaide Production Manager, Andrea O'Shea. Thanks to Ben Batstone-Cunningham and David Metcalfe, Forma Arts and Media.

A Rekindling Venus Production in association with Film Art Media. Developed and produced with the assistance of Screen Australia, ANAT, Australia Council for the Arts, the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund. © 2011 Lynette Wallworth