Projects

Amazon – Raised Up Sky

Amazon – Raised Up Sky is an immersive digital artwork and documentary about the Amazon rainforest, featuring interviews with indigenous leaders, scholars, photographers and environmentalists.

Brazil & Aotearoa New Zealand

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Amazon – Raised Up Sky is an augmented reality experience of the Amazon rainforest, created by New Zealand visual artist Joseph Michael. It is an epic art installation that brings to life the scale and magnificence of the trees. It connects the audience with the rainforest, by demonstrating our physical, biological and cultural links to the trees.

The samaúma (kapok) tree has a strong spiritual significance to the Asháninka, Ticuna, Karitiana and Shanenawá peoples of the Amazon, who believe it stands at the centre of the earth. The name samaúma means “raised up sky”, and, as one of the largest trees in the world, it is often referred to as the “tree of life”, “mother of trees” and “ladder of heaven”. Today, the samaúma remains a tree of life, as it supports vital plants and animals in the rainforest.

Amazon – Raised Up Sky visually places the viewer on the forest floor, where they experience trees in three layers: the outside of a tree; the processes inside the tree’s trunk and below ground; and the spirit realm known to the indigenous people of the Amazon. The digital artwork is accompanied by a documentary of how the project was developed, directed by Jen Raoult. The documentary contains excerpts from interviews with many passionate leaders, scholars, photographers and environmentalists who Joseph Michael interviewed.

The timing of the project meant that COVID-19 restrictions affected the team’s travel plans. This led Joseph Michael to establish a creative partnership with Amazon Film. Amazon Film carried out the digital scanning and filming in Brazil and sent the data to Joseph to develop the augmented reality experience. Joseph used a Zoom studio to interview prominent figures during a virtual expedition to the Amazon.

The project was supported by the Latin America Centre of Asia–Pacific Excellence. It was shown at 11 locations in New Zealand and was viewed by over 1500 people. The similarities between the size and cultural significance of the samaúma and New Zealand’s mighty kauri tree allow New Zealanders to connect with Brazilian culture. The film has enabled New Zealanders to immerse themselves in the Amazon rainforest and deepen their awareness of its global significance.

Amazon – Raised Up Sky has been developed into an interactive web-based tool called The Majestic Samaúma, which uses a Latin American lens to educate students about science and global citizenship.

Published 02 November 2023