Future Aleppo includes a new VR film by Alex Pearson and Marshmallow Laser Feast, Future Aleppo, which shines a light on the Syrian city of Aleppo, now torn to pieces in the ongoing conflict in the country.
Part of the Winter 2017 season
When filmmaker Alex Pearson saw a Channel 4 news report on the story of Mohammed Kteish, a teenage syrian refugee, it inspired him to reach out to Mohammed and his family and triggered the start of a life-changing journey of discovery.
In September 2015, the Channel 4 news report focused on 13 year-old Mohammed at his home in Aleppo. He dreamed of becoming an architect, with the aspiration of helping to re-build Aleppo after the conflict ends. Reflecting his passion for building, he had created a 3D cardboard model city, mixing existing landmarks with small improvements, such as wider rail tracks to accommodate high speed trains; reflecting his idea of an ideal Aleppo. But when he and his family were forced to flee their home to a refugee camp in Turkey, Mohammed had to leave behind his beloved model city.
Alex Pearson travelled to meet Mohammed and his family and witnessing him creating his 3D models, Alex developed the idea of helping to recreate Mohammed’s city digitally so that wherever he went, Mohammed could have his model with him at all times.
Creating a virtual world provided an ideal medium for the project. This reflected the hopes and dreams of Mohammed, the driving force behind the experience.
Mohammed and Alex, Future Aleppo. Image courtesy of Alex Pearson and Marshmallow Laser Feast
Future Aleppo, installation shot at FACT, 2017. Photo by Gary Coughlan
The VR experience
Future Aleppo is an interactive, Unity built, animated VR experience. Visitors enter Mohammed's home city of Aleppo. Visually, the city and its buildings replicate the creative style of Mohammed’s physical 3D models. Mohammed is your guide throughout your virtual journey. As an active participant in the experience, you get the chance to walk around an unbuilt city scape that is littered with paper. By picking up pieces of paper, you get to make and throw paper aeroplanes, which when thrown at specific spaces then triggers a building to grow before your eyes. Each either reflects Mohammed’s memories of buildings in Aleppo, or a building that he has imagined will help to create his ideal version Aleppo.
Commissioned by Sheffield Doc/Fest, in partnership with FACT and with support from Arts Council England. See https://futurealeppo.com for more details about the project.
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