A conversation with Kay Vasey, MeshMinds: Art, Technology, and Sustainability
Author: Josephine Choi - IDCA project manager
Dear Communicating the Arts Network,
Welcome to the latest edition of CTA News, where we bring you the highlights from our recent interview with Kay Vasey, the founder of MeshMinds. In this conversation, we dive into MeshMinds' journey, exploring its mission as a hybrid social enterprise and its recent success as a Gold Winner for the Most Sustainable category in the IDCA Awards 2023.
Kay Vasey, Founder of MeshMinds
Introduction to MeshMinds
Kay Vasey, the founder of MeshMinds, sheds light on the hybrid social enterprise MeshMinds—a creative technology studio and The MeshMinds Foundation, a platform dedicated to educating and empowering creative technologists in Asia. The organisation has crafted immersive experiences for renowned entities such as the United Nations, Apple and Meta by harnessing the power of art and technology for positive change. Kay says:
“We focused on exploring ways to merge art and technology for positive impact. The MeshMinds Foundation evolved from my realisation that there was a scarcity of opportunities for creative technologists in this region (Asia-Pacific) to learn emerging technologies. Recognising the need to bridge this gap, our foundation aims to educate, empower, and enable creators in Asia. We aim to enable creators to experiment with cutting-edge technologies from companies like Meta and Apple. Our initial breakthrough occurred in 2018 at the ArtScience Museum. I approached the executive director with a vision to unite artists and technologists for a project centred on People and Planet, aligning with sustainable development goals. This project began bringing diverse talents together, encouraging collaboration between artists, technologists, and technology companies to sponsor programs that generate immersive experiences.”
Art, technology, and sustainability: MeshMinds 3.0: ArtxTechforGood
Kay highlights the success of the recent MeshMinds exhibition ‘MeshMinds 3.0: ArtxTechforGood’ at the ArtScience Museum, which engaged over 12,500 attendees locally and internationally. The experience combined virtual reality, interactive elements, and cinema to communicate pressing issues like deforestation, rising sea levels, and the future of food production in an engaging and impactful manner. Kay shared:
“The remarkable aspect of our collaboration with the ArtScience Museum was their offer to sponsor all the tickets, ensuring everyone in Singapore could experience virtual reality. Participants could simply relax for around 15 minutes as they soared through the captivating imaginary marine utopia of Aquasia, raising concerns that rising sea levels are a massive problem for people in Asia. The experience also featured a curiosity gallery where visitors could play the Sky Farm Island game using provided iPads. This game allowed players to delve into the future of food production in Singapore, creating their avatars, claiming HDB residential blocks, and cultivating Asian crops in the sky. The digital twin of Tampines showcased real-life achievements, including successful rice cultivation in residential apartments. The goal is to bring attention to these developments engaging and impactfully.”
Kay draws inspiration from vertical farming and envisions involving youths in the process. Her goal is to create a digital replica of Singapore featuring HDB blocks and Hawker centres to educate people about the potential of local food production. Furthermore, Motivated by climate anxiety and the pervasive coverage of climate change news on smartphones, Kay is committed to ensuring a healthy planet for future generations. Kay seeks to unite people through innovative experiences that foster hope and empathy, addressing global issues collaboratively by establishing a link between playing a game and real-life issues.
MeshMinds effectively blends art and technology to spotlight environmental sustainability issues in Singapore. A compelling narrative complements the intentional and impactful use of technology. Additionally, Kay foresees the potential for MeshMinds' augmented reality experiences to facilitate cultural exchange, leveraging the ease of data sharing in the modern world. This vision aligns with the sustainability of their work, as MeshMinds can continually showcase their work in various global locations.
MeshMinds
Using AR for Cultural Exchange
Kay underscores the simplicity of globally sharing digital assets to ignite discussions on Asian culture and sustainability. Kay envisions other museums adopting their immersive experiences for their audiences, imagining a scenario where institutions worldwide use these assets to educate and engage young people on topics like Asian culture, rising sea levels, and future food production, offering a global perspective through the lens of the Asian community. Kay says:
“As I read through the IDCA Awards criteria, it perfectly aligns with what we've been aiming to achieve. It's incredible to discover CTA dedicated to showcasing international companies and initiatives sharing our passion. Since our work is predominantly digital, we can effortlessly share files globally. I can provide a folder detailing our setup process at the ArtScience Museum. This approach aligns with our commitment to sustainability and eliminates the need for my physical presence during setup. It's a seamless process for others to download the assets and use them as they see fit. I recently shared our augmented reality work at the UN in Bangkok. Engaging with Ministers of Environment across the Asia-Pacific region felt like a unique and meaningful connection.”
An art and technology experience that addresses sustainability issues in Singapore and the broader Asian context proves educational and impactful. Nonetheless, MeshMinds encounters sponsorship challenges.
Challenges and Solutions for an Art Experience in Singapore
MeshMinds successfully draws a varied audience with its experience, featuring Asian representation and interactive components. The journey was not without hurdles, as securing sponsorships posed challenges. When facing difficulties such as unlocking budgets from technology companies and dealing with scepticism about the size of the Singapore market, Kay shared:
“Typically, there's a prevalence of shows featuring Western artists or popular theatre productions like "The Lion King." While these have their place, it's truly refreshing to witness a show deeply rooted in a strong Asian cultural context. However, organising such exhibitions presents challenges, particularly in securing sponsorships and support. In Singapore, where many major technology companies have their headquarters, the struggle lies in convincing them to allocate budgets for shows and marketing specifically to Singapore. Common responses include disclaimers that marketing decisions are centralised at the head office or concerns about the small Singapore market size, making it difficult to justify substantial funding. This dynamic poses a persistent challenge.”
MeshMinds navigated these obstacles through adept communication and collaboration. Strategic partnerships, particularly with the ArtScience museum, were crucial in managing costs and developing compelling content for the experience. Kay says:
“Certainly, we had to self-fund a significant portion of the experience. However, the ArtScience Museum played a pivotal role by prominently providing space and featuring us on their website, contributing significantly to cost management. Beyond the show, various aspects, such as marketing, press coverage, and social media efforts, incurred additional expenses over time. Despite these challenges, the ArtScience Museum has proven to be an invaluable and supportive partner. Moreover, there were hurdles in translating creative ideas into technological realities in the content creation process, requiring close collaboration with technologists. Challenges arose when certain ideas proved more complex than initially envisioned, but maintaining open communication and a flexible approach allowed us to find alternative solutions.”
Despite challenges, MeshMinds overcame limitations through strategic partnerships. Committed to its mission, the organisation aims to educate and engage audiences, especially the youth, with interactive and enjoyable art and technology experiences.
Aquasia at the VR Gallery, ArtScience Museum
Continued Mission at the Intersection of Art + Technology + Sustainability
Kay’s motivation stems from a deep desire to create a better world for her children and future generations. Faced with the constant influx of climate-related news, she used her skills to blend art and technology, fostering hope, empathy, and action. MeshMinds continues to inspire positive change and spark meaningful conversations around pressing global issues. Kay shared:
“Once, I had the privilege of meeting Tim Cook during an invitation from Apple when he was in Singapore. It was an exciting opportunity to showcase our augmented reality work. He expressed that our projects were precisely what Apple products should be used for. It proved that we were on the right path. The entrepreneurial journey can be isolating and filled with self-doubt. However, moments like these, where you reflect on the encouragement from influential figures like Tim Cook or the applause from Ministers of Environment, reassure me that our efforts are making a positive impact. Another significant highlight is the persistent support from the ArtScience Museum, as their backing ensures our experiences don't remain confined to the digital realm.”
These experiences have reinforced Kay's confidence in the impact of MeshMinds, offering reassurance during the challenging entrepreneurial journey. With the IDCA Awards bringing global attention, MeshMinds aims to extend the reach of its immersive experience to museums worldwide. The ease of sharing digital assets allows for seamless international collaboration, promoting sustainability and awareness on a broader scale.