Transforming Visions: B3 Artists’ SXSW Journey
When Hannah Oliver, Jay Oliver Yip, and Gary Alake Riley arrived in Austin, they embarked on a week that redefined their creative practices and professional perspectives.
Selected through British Underground’s Future Art and Culture Connect programme, these three emerging artists joined a UK delegation at SXSW 2025—a global stage for innovation and creativity. Their journey was more than just an opportunity to showcase their work; it was a chance to immerse themselves in new ideas, connect with industry leaders, and explore cutting-edge immersive storytelling.
Distinctive Visions on a Global Stage
Each artist brought their own unique vision to SXSW, showcasing projects that are currently in development:
• Hannah Oliver presented ‘Where Are You?’, a poetic VR experience exploring memory and identity through fragments of sound and language.
• Jay Oliver Yip shared ‘Complete Myself/Them Daze’, a project blending live performance and XR to explore themes of belonging and transformation.
• Gary Alake Riley introduced ‘Neon Billboard’, an animated series inspired by his love of graphic novels and street art.
These works reflect the diversity of voices supported by B3 Media and British Underground, demonstrating the potential of immersive storytelling to connect audiences with deeply personal narratives.
Creative Exchange at SXSW
As part of the UK delegation, Hannah, Jay, and Gary attended a wide range of panels, workshops, and networking sessions. These activities provided invaluable opportunities to connect with international delegates, share ideas about their projects, and explore new immersive works.
One notable session was British Underground’s From the Ground Up panel at UK House, which focused on the UK immersive scene—exploring talent pipelines, funding opportunities, and strategies for expanding the sector through collaboration and inclusivity.
Featuring industry leaders like Richard Russell (ACE), Verity McIntosh (Immersive Arts), Jo Verrent (Unlimited), Anne Rupert (Blast Theory), and Marc Boothe (B3 Media), the panel offered key insights that resonated with the artists as they reflected on their own creative practices.
Inspirations That Shaped Their Vision
At SXSW, Hannah, Jay, and Gary encountered groundbreaking immersive works that expanded their creative horizons and inspired new directions for their projects.
Hannah was deeply moved by Cameron Kostopoulos’s In The Current Of Being, a poetic VR experience exploring gender identity and politics through haptics and sound. She described it as “profoundly moving,” resonating with her own themes of memory and identity.
Jay found inspiration in Jake Oleson’s Currents, an Apple Vision Pro experience that follows Linh’s journey from rural life to bustling Ho Chi Minh City. The work’s innovative use of 180° film helped Jay envision new ways to translate his live- performance characters into digital spaces.
Gary was captivated by Proof As If Proof Were Needed, an interactive video installation by UK-based Blast Theory in collaboration with Taiwanese artist Ting-Tong Chang. The work invites participants to explore the floor plan of a Taiwanese house, uncovering the fractured history of a couple who lived there. It won the Special Jury Award in the XR Experience Competition at SXSW. Gary reflected on how the piece demonstrated the power of interactive storytelling to engage audiences without relying on headsets.
Creative Futures: From Inspiration to Action
The transformation we’ve witnessed in Hannah, Jay, and Gary hasn’t ended with their return to the UK—it’s only just beginning. Building on the momentum from SXSW, all three will participate in B3 Media’s Creative Catalyst Residency as part of a cohort of 10 artists.
During this residency, they will focus on developing project demos and prototypes supported by tailored mentoring and access to cutting- edge equipment.
Their work will culminate in the B3 Futures Showcase in November 2025, where they will present their projects to industry leaders and collaborators. Beyond this showcase, they aim to secure funding for further development while exploring new collaborations sparked during their time at SXSW.
Read the artists’ full journeys:
Continuing the Journey
British Underground continues championing UK creative talent internationally through their Future Art and Culture programme—produced with Arts Council England with partnership support from the British Council—which has helped over 250 creators bring innovative work to global audiences. FAC Connect exemplifies this mission by supporting emerging artists like Hannah Oliver, Jay Oliver Yip, and Gary Alake Riley as they take their work to new heights.
Learn more about British Underground’s Future Art and Culture programme at www.britishunderground.net or explore our Creative Catalyst Residency.
“SXSW was a great leveller—it showed me I belong in these spaces. It completely changed how I see myself creatively and professionally.”
Future Art and Culture is British Underground’s flagship international programme produced with Arts Council England with partnership support from the British Council. FAC Connect brings together British Underground and B3 Media as partners in talent development.
Join The Next Generation!
Could your artistic vision undergo a similar transformation? Our next TalentLab XR intake opens in July 2025, offering emerging diverse artists skills development, funding, mentoring, and a creative community. Visit www.b3media.net/talentlab-xr to register your interest.