CHROMA collective.
SAE
Artist Statement
Iris, Goddess of Rainbows. Daughter of Electra and Thaumus, gods and wonders of the ocean. This ever ethereal and
mysterious messenger of Hera opens up her secret world of holograms, prisms and fractured light. A portal through
to another realm, and our eyes’ source of colour, joy and happiness. A moment away from the urgency of action to
connect and exhale, a second to take in the dance of light and rain. Iris tip toes on the earth once more, casting her
technicolour bridge down to deliver a message of hope.
IRIS is our offering to you, to build this bridge.
Of all the magical mysteries of life, Iris’ story and her ethereal rainbow power remains relatively unexplored and
virtually untold. Working alongside Producer Katherine Quigley and Sound Designer, Gus Brady, we will combine
forces with a powerhouse team of Queensland based women in a writers-room style devised process to reveal the
story of the mysterious Goddess Iris. This team includes circus virtuoso; Chelsea McGuffin and musicians; Kathryn
McKee (Angel Strings/KMAK), Jackie Marshall, and Patience Hodgson.
This collaborative development process will combine the energies and forces of Chroma and our collaborators
drawing upon; AR, AI, tarot, holograms, motion capture, science, astrology, divination games, 3D animation, kinetic
sculpture, lasers, classical music, rock, electronica, circus, sound design, and performance to create a fittingly
mysterious escape-room-esque Art Party. Due to the universal appeal of IRIS’ transportal potentials and visually
stunning elements we anticipate this experience to attract a diverse audience and appeal to a range of age groups,
aiding to foster a refuge of inclusivity and community engagement.
About the artists
We are Chroma, a new collective of multidisciplinary artists who met while studying Animation at SAE Creative Media
University College. With a multitude of skills behind us including architecture, construction, theatre, and visual arts we
have merged our respective strengths and are drawn to creating immersive, subversive, and transformative physical
environments. Based on the success of our previous project, Art Immersia, we have been selected for presentation at
the upcoming International Symposium for Electronic Arts, Everywhen in 2024.
Brisbane based, we each grew up in different locations connected by the Pacific; Valentino (Sunshine Coast), Marco
(Vanuatu), and Lachlan (Batemans Bay). With this shared influence mixed with a complimentary underpinning of skills
and a longing for coastal life, we are looking to extend our understanding of community through this
opportunity and audience.
Marco: BA of Environments, MA Architecture (UniMelb), BA Animation (SAE): Born and raised in
Vanuatu with Vietnamese heritage Marco currently works as a freelance architect and
animator. Specialising in spatial design, 3D motion graphics, and projection mapping, his
work fuses the built and digital environments to obscure and transform design into a dynamic
dissolve between the boundaries of tangible and virtual He has developed skills in projection
mapping, anamorphic illusions, and installation art, all of which are evident in his capstone
project, Art Immersia.
Lachlan: BA Building & Construction Management (University of Canberra), BA Animation (SAE).
Lachlan’s calling came during lockdown where he dedicated three years to pivot away from
construction and is now a specialist in 3D animation, visual effects, video editing, and 3D
modelling. Lachlan’s transformative journey from an upbringing immersed in the surf culture of
Bateman’s Bay through to now, was told as part of his most recent collaboration, Art Immersia,
highlighting his mastery of particle simulations, lighting, textures, and storytelling through
abstract form.
Valentino: BA Animation, (SAE). Absurdist by trade, colourblind artist and left handed poet, Valentino’s
upbringing surrounded by a family of Swiss artists in the picturesque beaches of Noosa fostered
a hardened compass of curiosity, exploration, and artistic expression. Theatre maker, exhibiting
visual artist, poet, and now animator, Valentino’s current investigation is the culmination of these
tools to create immersive worlds and transformative lived experiences. Working in collaboration
with First Nations artist Jennifer Kent, Valentino along with 4 other animators created a breathtaking
visualisation of Kent’s work covering the Ipswich City Council building as part of Spark 2023.
Gus: BMus (Composition) (SAE); Gus Brady is a composer, sound designer, and promoter with particular interest in electronic
music, soundscape, AI, AV, online communities, and the influence of internet culture on society. His exposure to global travel
throughout his life has grounded his youth with wisdom and a passionate work ethic to pursue multiple avenues. He currently
works alongside the team at Tonepacer, specialists in experimental live sound engineering.
Credits: Marco Friess, Lachlan Jack, Valentino R. Koch, Gus Brady, Katharine Marchingo, Joss, Patience Hodgson, Jackie Marshall, Leah Flanagan, Kathryn McKee, Chelsea McGuffin