The ruins of Palmyra in the desert by Robert Wood, 1771. Internet Archive.
The Upper Side of the Sky (Virtual Reality Thesis Project) - 2019
The Upper Side of The Sky is a virtual reality experience that investigates resurrecting archaeology and re-contextualizing nature, that are now endangered or non existent as a result of war and destruction. This digital ecosystem consists of a greenhouse, courtyard, chrysalis chamber, and other destroyed monuments from the ancient Syrian desert Palmyra. In the context of technology that is threatening nature, there is a chance for us to re-utilize it, as a provider of lives. Digitizing lost architecture and plant life, not to save them, but to give them an opportunity to live in different life forms, and to act as a record for future generations and to allow them the same access to create a world for them to exist in. "Monuments, as embodiment of history, religion, art and science, are significant and complex repositories of cultural narratives” words by Roger Michel, the Executive Director of the Institute for Digital Archaeology. These cultural narratives play an important role in taking back control of these lost objects. The loss of the monuments are irreplaceable, but their photo-realistic reconstruction offers us solace by walking the memories of the great monuments in their past. The lost reality of the temples are revived by digitally reconstructing their ghost images.
Audio: original 360 soundtrack directed by Jawa El Khash. Co-produced and co-designed by Patrick Perez and Those Who From Heaven To Earth Came
Technical Tools: Unity, Houdini Side FX, Photoshop & Steam
2019 — Thesis project exhibited at OCAD University GradEX
2019 — Solo exhibition at Extracurricular XYZ curated by Veronika Ivanova
2020 — Solo exhibition at InterAccess curated by Megan MacLaurin
Press: InterAccess is pleased to present a solo exhibition by Damascus-born, Toronto-based multimedia artist Jawa El Khash
2020 — Group exhibition at Western Front Vancouver Independent Archives Week curated by Dana Qaddah
Press: As part of Recollective: Vancouver Independent Archives Week, Western Front is pleased to present an online exhibition of The Upper Side of the Sky by Jawa El Khash
2020 — Group exhibition at Trinity Square Video, awarded by EQ Bank curated by Shannon Linde
Press: Celebrating Emerging Digital Artists at Trinity Square Video
2020 — Group exhibition at MUTEK, curated by Sarah Eve Tousignant
360 video. Please toggle 4K for best viewing.
