Jess Johnson and Simon Ward

Artist Jess Johnson is in New York - Simon Ward is in Wellington - but they communicate through virtual reality, creating animation and virtual reality environments that are pretty indescribable. But for you, we'll try: intense, cybernetic psychedelic sci-fi worlds. 

Jess and Simon are the second in our series of interviews with the people behind the four shortlisted exhibitions for NZ's preeminent art prize the Walters. Their latest work is a commission for the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, and it's that gallery's first virtual reality work. Their Walters exhibition is called Whol Wide World and opens at Auckland Art Gallery in August. 

The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.