SIGGRAPH Asia 2019
This year, SIGGRAPH Asia, or the 12th ACM SIGGRAPH Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques in Asia, is to take place at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) from 17-20 NOV 2019.
This annual event, which rotates around the Asian region, started in Singapore in 2008 and attracts the most respected technical and creative people from all over the world who are excited by research, science, art, animation, gaming, interactivity, education and emerging technologies. I was there in Singapore at the start and, I’ve said this before, it’s the best thing to ever have happened to the ACM brand. It took SIGGRAPH out of its comfort zone. Hopefully, going to Australia will be one step further.
Some of the industry’s most respected brands are supporting SIGGRAPH Asia’s debut in Australia. The conference chair Tomasz Bednarz, says Brisbane has a rapidly growing presence of VR/AR, interactive media, as well as animation and VFX film production happening in the city. “For artists and scientists, SIGGRAPH Asia is a very special and unique place,” he says. “It is a second home where all passions driven by computer graphics and interactive techniques converge. This year’s edition is carefully designed to inspire everyone – an event you definitely cannot miss.”
Actually, when you think about it, this part of the planet is full of vitally creative and experimental industries. The mainstream studios are all coming to be part of this first-time event. ILM, Pixar, Weta Digital and MPC. Method, RSP, Animal Logic and Luma Pictures, all actually have studios down here. AltVFX and Cutting Edge reside in Brisbane. The program sessions for the conferences are all online now, and there are presentations on the big films as well as soon of the smaller, productions that haven’t even been released yet. Pixar’s Onward is being shown in detail and it hasn’t been seen in cinemas yet.
One of the most exciting and unique presentations I’m looking forward to at SIGGRAPH Asia 2019 is the Dream Zone, inspired by Australian Indigenous belief in the power of dreaming and the beginning of knowledge and form. Bednarz elaborates, “It is a place where all our dreams converge; permits anyone to dream using computer graphics and interactive techniques. Technology enables art, science, design, engineering, to be without limits, connecting with our passions, and things we care about.”
I’m also looking forward to seeing the reaction to this display from the overseas visitors because this is a presentation quite unique to Australia.
Check out the program for November 17-20. The Exhibitor Talks, Featured Sessions, the Computer Animation Festival, networking opportunities and industry knowledge available, is well worth the trip. I’ll be up there at SIGGRAPH Asia 2019 in Brisbane.
If you see me there, please come and say hi! It’ll be great to catch up!
Related links:
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