Mawari, a Tokyo-based technology start-up, has been making waves in the world of extended reality (XR). The company was co-founded by Luis Oscar Ramirez Solorzano, who is also known for co-founding MUTEK JP, a digital arts festival that pushes the boundaries of technology. Mawari’s mission is to democratize the creation and distribution of immersive content at scale via intelligent networks, and they have been working on various products and solutions to achieve this since 2017.
The Mawari Network is a decentralised 3D & XR content delivery platform that breaks the bottlenecks of infrastructure supply for real-time rendering, and the lack of local compute power on XR Devices. Mawari do this by orchestrating a decentralised network of GPU-powered nodes that run the Mawari Engine, a proprietary technology stack that allows to render interactive 3D content and stream it efficiently in real-time to mobile XR devices at scale.
“The XR market, with its trillion-dollar potential, will not fully unfold until we can stream consumer-grade content efficiently to a vast array of XR wearable devices. Additionally, without compelling, ‘killer’ use-cases, XR cannot achieve mainstream adoption.
At Mutek, we just did both: Our partner, MXR, integrated Mawari’s technology to successfully stream consumer-grade content across the Mawari Network to mobile XR glasses on a large scale. More crucially, it showcased a use-case that captivated consumers. This groundbreaking Immersive Mixed Reality art installation, streamed to XR glasses, was not only a first of its kind but also a tremendous success, selling out quickly. This achievement underscores consumer interest in high-quality immersive experiences and affirms the potential of XR technology.At Mawari, our mission is clear: to be a driving force in ushering the XR industry into the mainstream. We’re committed to breaking new ground and unlocking the full potential of XR technologies.“
– Luis Oscar Ramirez Solorzano, Founder & CEO Mawari
Partnering with Hiroaki Umeda, renowned choreographer and multidisciplinary artist who is recognized as a leading figure in the Japanese avant-garde art scene. He is known for his innovative performances that integrate new technology with movement, combining the physicality of dance with digital abstractions, minimal soundscapes, and reality-disrupting light design and motion-mapped projections. At MUTEK Japan, Umeda has presented captivating dance performances that embody his unique artistic approach, exploring the intersections between the corporeal, optical, sensorial, and spatiotemporal elements in his choreographies and installation works. His work has received critical acclaim and has been featured at various international events, showcasing his distinctive blend of visual technology with physical practice.
This year, Hiroaki Umeda, collaborated with Mawari and MXR to craft an extraordinary MR (mixed reality) installation, a poetic convergence of contemporary dance and digital art. This creation weaves a mesmerising tapestry of movement and light, enchanting visual and auditory senses. With the innovative use of the MXR Visual Art tool and Mawari Network’s sophisticated Core XR streaming technology, this avant-garde exhibition transcends traditional visual boundaries, inviting audiences into a realm of transformative, immersive experiences that speak to the heart of artistic expression. This is an immersive XR installation in which the digitised body of dancer Hiroaki Umeda appears, presenting a new form of visual art through the fusion of contemporary dance, digital art, and cutting-edge MR technology. Equipped with the next generation MR device “Magic Leap 2” and streamed by “Mawari Network”, up to ten people can experience it at the same time. A 7-minute piece that gives a true three-dimensional experience and stimulates visual and auditory senses, allowing you to freely walk and explore the venue. A breathtaking immersive experience that reshapes the landscape of immersive art.
Mawari has also been involved in collaborative efforts, such as the MXR workshop co-sponsored by &Pull, the XR producers behind Coachella’s broadcast AR program. This workshop, hosted at Shibuya Stream Hall, reflects Mawari’s commitment to advancing the XR industry through knowledge sharing and community building.
In addition, Mawari has been associated with MUTEK.JP, where the audiovisual project PRIFMA’s A/V, a collaboration between Argentinian musician AVR010’s, Mercedes Invernizzi Oviedo, and Laura Fuchs, was showcased. This involvement further demonstrates Mawari’s engagement with the digital arts and XR community.
Overall, Mawari’s presence and contributions to the XR industry, as evidenced by its innovative products, collaborative initiatives, and participation in prominent events, highlight the company’s commitment to unlocking new perspectives with real-time immersive technology. As Mawari continues to develop and introduce new solutions, it is poised to play a significant role in shaping the future of XR content creation and distribution.