Where Memories Sleep

A cine-dance music production, Where Memories Sleep explores the Antarctic legend of Aurora. Created by Jason O’Hara and Warren Maxwell, it’s the result of a 2016 trip to Scott Base where the pair captured a wealth of images and sound recordings from the ice.

Blending musician Warren Maxwell’s soundscapes with designer, photographer and video artist, Jason O’Hara’s images, Where Memories Sleep is an immersive, multimedia installation that uses storytelling to connect New Zealanders with the scientific world of Antarctica. The narrative interprets the epic adventures of a young explorer in an icy realm who discovers the stored memories of the world and falls in love.

Contemporary dance is also key to the work, with both pre-recorded and live performances choreographed by Ooshcon Masseurs. The multimedia collaborations inherent in the project include O’Hara’s son Ruben O’Hara who created visual effects to connect audio and the movement of the dancers, resulting in ‘the aurora effect’. The dancers’ costumes are designed by Jason with Sue Prescott, and the stunning make-up is by Alana James.