Digital Documentation and Artistic Interpretation of the Site
In 2018, Dr Rowan Conroy, Associate Director Artistic Interpretation and Senior Lecturer, Photography and Media Arts, Australian National University School of Art & Design, was awarded the Create NSW Regional Artist Fellowship to undertake two periods of artistic interpretation at the Paphos Theatre Archaeological Project excavations, which he undertook in 2018 and 2019. Conroy’s project focuses on high resolution mapping of the site using professional drone equipment, resulting in a range of 3D photogrammetry models covering key areas of the site and finds. Rowan also shoots footage of the process of excavation from an artistic perspective, revealing unique and often overlooked aspects of the aesthetics of the methods of field archaeology. A multi-screen video installation based on the material captured in 2018-9 is in production. This is intended for exhibition in Australian and in Cyprus in the near future.
The Paphos Theatre project offers exciting possibilities to apply and extend new technologies, particularly around drone mapping and video capture, of the ancient site from an aerial perspective. Using Drone technology and high-end digital imaging platforms, Conroy’s research explores new ways of seeing and perspectives enabled by emerging technologies and software.
The fragmentary ruins and rich artefacts of the Paphos theatre have proven to be a fertile ground for many artists to reimagine and visualise antiquity. Over the twenty five year span of the excavations many artists have undertaken artistic residencies creating artworks in response to the site and it’s objects. The exhibition Travellers to Cyprus: Artists from Australia for the Pafos 2017 European Capital of Culture exhibited twelve artists who have worked on the theatre site in the past, including Conroy’s work from 2006 when he was working on site as an undergraduate excavator and draughtsperson. The role of visual artists on the site has given this archaeological excavation an imaginative dimension where potters, photographers, sculptors and weavers demonstrate the lineage of technologies from ancient to contemporary, allowing archaeology to embrace inter-disciplinary practice.
Contact Dr Conroy for more information.
The Paphos Theatre project offers exciting possibilities to apply and extend new technologies, particularly around drone mapping and video capture, of the ancient site from an aerial perspective. Using Drone technology and high-end digital imaging platforms, Conroy’s research explores new ways of seeing and perspectives enabled by emerging technologies and software.
The fragmentary ruins and rich artefacts of the Paphos theatre have proven to be a fertile ground for many artists to reimagine and visualise antiquity. Over the twenty five year span of the excavations many artists have undertaken artistic residencies creating artworks in response to the site and it’s objects. The exhibition Travellers to Cyprus: Artists from Australia for the Pafos 2017 European Capital of Culture exhibited twelve artists who have worked on the theatre site in the past, including Conroy’s work from 2006 when he was working on site as an undergraduate excavator and draughtsperson. The role of visual artists on the site has given this archaeological excavation an imaginative dimension where potters, photographers, sculptors and weavers demonstrate the lineage of technologies from ancient to contemporary, allowing archaeology to embrace inter-disciplinary practice.
Contact Dr Conroy for more information.