Reverse Dreamtime Story - illuminart stories in light

Reverse Dreamtime Story

Who

Kaleidoscope / Mellen Events / City of Joondalup

What

Festival Commission

Where

Joondalup, WA

When

2016 and 2018

Reverse Dreamtime Story was developed in collaboration with First Nations artists as a large-scale outdoor projection, translating painted and illustrated works into animated form for public presentation.

Reverse Dreamtime Story features the Waagyl (the traditional Nyoongar name for the Rainbow Serpent), the creator of all things. The work reflects the deep time connection Indigenous people have to Country, while also looking forward through a ‘reverse dreamtime’ lens that reflects back on the present.

Invited by curator Cindi Drennan, Dennis Simmons, founder of cultural group Maar Koodjal and a writer, performer and musician, conceived the idea for Reverse Dreamtime Story. Respected Nyoongar artist Dennis Kickett (Noongali) and his daughter Michelle (Wilura) were invited to illustrate the story, with local music producer Mason Vellios creating the soundtrack. illuminart worked alongside the artists to guide the translation of the painted and illustrated works into animation and projection, ensuring the visual language of the original artworks remained true to the artists’ vision. The work stands as a legacy of creative collaboration and cultural exchange.

The projection blends two- and three-dimensional animation with traditional dot painting and contemporary digital imagery, accompanied by music, and was created in close collaboration with illuminart animators and producers.

The work was presented to strong public reception at the inaugural Kaleidoscope Festival in 2016 and was invited to return as part of the 2018 program, demonstrating its enduring relevance and suitability for repeat outdoor presentation. It has since been presented at additional festivals and Indigenous conferences.

A groundbreaking new approach to Dreamtime Storytelling...

Kaleidoscope Festival

  • More info

    Combining the visual art of highly regarded Nyoongar artist Dennis Kickett (Noongali) and his daughter Michelle (Willura) and directed by Dennis Simmons, an Indigenous creative director based in the Joondalup area, Reverse Dreamtime Story left Kaleidoscope festival-goers in awe.

    Dennis (founder of cultural group Maar Koodjal, and writer, performer and musician) conceived the idea of the Reverse Dreamtime Story as a way of showing how Aboriginal culture will successfully thrive and carry forward into the future, saying “The Waagyl (traditional Nyoongar name for the Rainbow Serpent) is the creator of all things for us. This projection continues our Dreamtime story into the far future, and because of this it means that Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people who see this, will be entwined into this future Dreamtime together.”

    Music for this exciting piece is by Mason Vellios, a highly regarded sound designer and composer based north of Perth, WA.

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  • Project Team

  • In the Media

    WHILE Joondalup Library has played host to many a storytelling session over the years, not once has the story been illuminated on to the building itself for all to see. That will change when the inaugural Kaleidoscope festival comes to the Joondalup City Centre next week.
    Joondalup Times, 2016

    Our smash hit major projection from the inaugural Kaleidoscope in 2016 returns!
    Kaleidoscope Festival 2018

     

  • Project Data

    Project ID # 1112RDS, 1172

    Project Type:
    Cultural Collaborations