Repast II - Spier Festival of Light

Repast II was presented at the Spier Festival of Light, an annual celebration of creativity and storytelling through illumination. The installation asked audiences to reflect on belonging, memory, and displacement—through the paradox of eucalyptus trees: invasive in South Africa, yet deeply iconic in their native

At its core, Repast II blended music, responsive visuals, and interactive technology to create a living, breathing environment where visitors were not just spectators, but active participants in the narrative.

The Concept

Nature and memory became intertwined through the metaphor of the eucalyptus tree—thriving in a place it was never truly meant to be. Just like memories, these trees exist in unfamiliar landscapes, yet become part of the local identity.

This thematic foundation shaped every creative and technical decision: how sound flowed, how visuals unfolded, and how visitors experienced the installation.

Our Role

As Creative Technologist at Wezside Creative Tech Studio, Wesley Swanepoel led the development of the technical infrastructure that powered the experience.

• Interactive System Design – Motion tracking and touch sensors allowed visitors to influence the projection mapping and soundscape in real-time.
• Responsive Projection Mapping – Layered imagery from the Adelaide Hills, Australia, was projected in dynamic compositions, shifting in response to audience presence.
• Sound Integration – Music by composer Paul Castles was interwoven with visuals, ensuring that audio and imagery formed a seamless multisensory narrative.

The Collaboration

Repast II was a proudly local production, with the entire team based in Cape Town, South Africa — except for original creative director Nicole Brady of WLDR (Australia), who brought an international vision to the project.

The team included:

• Paul Castles – Composer
• Nicole Brady (WLDR) – Creative Director
• Jean-Jacques Rossouw – Experience Designer
• West Mackintosh – 3D Designer
• Wesley Swanepoel - Creative Technologist (Wezside)

The Experience

Visitors stepping into Repast II found themselves inside a responsive, multisensory space:

• Touch pads triggered shifts in visuals and sound.
• Projection mapping blurred the line between real and digital environments.
• Immersive soundscapes transported audiences between South Africa and the Adelaide Hills.

Technology became invisible — what remained was a contemplative space for exploring one’s own sense of belonging and displacement.

Impact

Visitors stepping into Repast II found themselves inside a responsive, multisensory space:

• Encouraging audiences to question how memory shapes identity.
• Demonstrating the power of interactive art to make complex ideas tangible.
• Reinforcing Wezside’s commitment to blending art, technology, and nature into meaningful installations.

Conclusion

At Wezside Creative Tech Studio, projects like Repast II showcase our belief that technology should disappear into experience—acting not as the focus, but as the invisible bridge between story and audience.

This installation is a reflection of our ongoing mission: to create immersive, human-centered experiences that challenge perceptions and spark dialogue.