Tokitae's Reality: An Augmented Reality Experience Shedding Light on the Plight of Captive Orcas'
Updated: Jul 2
morpheousStudios is honored to unveil the forthcoming launch of Tokitae's Reality, a state-of-the-art augmented reality (AR) pop-up installation centered around the deeply moving story of Tokitae, also known as Lolita. This captive orca was forcibly taken from the Salish Sea in 1970 and has spent five decades living in an extremely small tank at the Miami Seaquarium, performing for audiences. The carefully crafted augmented reality experience aims to heighten awareness of Tokitae's plight, generate empathy, and instill a sense of urgency for her much-needed return to the Salish Sea.
Early location-based prototype testing of occlusion and human responses to being "confined" inside the small augmented reality enclosure during a series of tests in 2022.
Set to launch in the Summer of 2023, Tokitae's Reality will premiere as a pop-up installation on a Florida public beach, highlighting the confinement Tokitae has experienced at the Miami Seaquarium while performing for food. Participants will step into an AR "tank" with dimensions proportionally equivalent to Tokitae's living space as if an average-height human were experiencing the same confinement.
Throughout the interactive experience, participants will navigate the stark reality of Tokitae's living conditions, revealing the circumstances she has faced and the urgent need for change. At the end of the 3-minute immersive journey, a specific action step is presented, enabling participants to take an easy, one-minute action to help influence the decision-makers who hold the key to Tokitae's reintegration into her native home in the Salish Sea. Tokitae's Reality is not just an exploration of one orca's confinement; it also symbolizes the broader issues surrounding captivity and the ethical treatment of marine life.
left: location test walk-thru using a 12.9" iPad Pro to explore the inside of the "tank" (right) and learn about Tokitae's confinement at the Miami Seaquarium.
Our hope is that this unique and powerful installation leaves participants with a profound understanding of the pain and injustice faced by these majestic beings and serves as an impetus to join the movement advocating for their freedom.
Prepare to embark on an emotional and unforgettable journey as you enter Tokitae's Reality. This is a story of endurance, hope, and the unrelenting spirit of a beautiful creature who deserves a life beyond the confining walls of her tank.
In the Fall of 2023, we invite activists and the public to join us in raising awareness of Tokitae's plight within their local communities. We will be offering a free downloadable version of Tokitae's Reality to those with qualifying tablets, providing you the opportunity to collaborate with us in hosting engaging pop-up augmented reality installations in your local area. An Apple Vision Pro version of Tokitae's Reality is also under development and slated for a 2024 release.
Together, we can make a difference and bring the plight of Tokitae and captive cetaceans everywhere to the forefront of public consciousness.
Contact:
Mark Kyle
Artist | Digital Nomad
morpheousStudios
mark@morpheousstudios.com
www.morpheousstudios.com/tokitaesreality