Upside Down People

‘Upside-Down People’ is an invitation to swing yourself upside-down and into the different sensory and social world of an autistic person who struggles with humans, yet belongs with Bats.

Combining hand-drawn animation, multi-sensory materials, sound art, reflected shadow puppetry, and layered moving images, ‘Upside-Down People’ tells stories about personhood, threatened futures, and the preciousness of hope blossoming in the dark.

Created by autistic Walbanja-Yuin woman Sara Kian-Judge, ‘Upside-Down People’ is proudly supported by neurodivergent graduates from Melbourne Polytechnic and Youthworx Media. Set underneath a canopy of The Capitol’s extraordinary roof lighting system, ‘Upside-Down People’ features lightscapes designed by students from the RMIT Digital Media’s Heightened Multisensory Experience studio.

Join us for an open-hearted flight into the dark guided by intense care for our threatened Bat species and autistic inclusion in the world, stitched together by story-telling that is equal parts raw and whimsical.

Presented in partnership with Zoos Victoria.

Supported by Melbourne Polytechnic Creative Arts (Sound, Music & Screen).

The Capitol Innovation Fund contributes to the funding of this work. The fund enables an applied, practice-based approach through creative initiatives.

Creative team

Sara Kian-Judge – Walbanja-Yuin – Lead Artist

Jodie Austin – Ngunnawal – Animation

Eav Brennan – Bat Costume & Creative Support

David Mackenzie – Mentor Artist/Filmmaker

Adam Velo – Media & Videography

Caitlin Hudson – Media & Videography

Talia Mason – Media & Videography

Madison Wilkinson – Media & Photography

MESS Through The Roof

Four recent alumni of the 2021 MESS Professional Development course take to the stage to perform an eclectic, genre-bending mix of live electronic music.

The scene will be set underneath a canopy of extraordinary lighting, designed by students from the RMIT Digital Media’s Heightened Multisensory Experience studio. They will be presenting audiovisual works composed especially for The Capitol – RMIT and its bespoke roof lighting system. From sublime to intense, by turn, the works create mesmerising, hypnogogic, exhilarating, brutal and overwhelming experiences.

Featuring: Catherine Ryan + R. P. Downie + Reuben Lewis + Tiffany Alwis

Produced by Studio Leads Darrin Verhagen and Shaun Wilson, and Program Manager Ben Byrne.

RMIT artists: The Weird Kids + Tracey Dinh (light) & Christine Kung (sound) + Patricia Summers (light) & Rob Currulli (sound) + Rob Curulli / 0F.digital + cal_um

Strobe Effect Warning: Please be advised that this show may contain strobe effects and intense lighting which may not be safe for those who are sensitive to light.

Presented in partnership with Melbourne Music Week.

RMIT Media Virtual Showcase 2021

Emerging contemporary media professionals present their short films, video art, soundscapes and digital projects for the RMIT Bachelor of Communication (Media) end of semester online showcase.

Highlights include Cristina Ulloa Sobarzo’s meta-documentary on film editor Johanna Scott So, You’re Telling Me I’m Serving People Tea and Coffee? produced for the Women Beside the Screen studio in partnership with the Melbourne Women in Film Festival, which creatively profiles women who have forged a career in the Australian screen industries; Kennel, a phone app described as “Tinder for pets” by Marla Kalaw and Derek Xu; and the non-linear video series exploring the weight of grief, As Grief Holds Us, by Sofia Georganas, Andy Eaton and Rishi Ranjan.

Presented by RMIT School of Media and Communication.

Expand to browse the showcase highlights below: