Universal Power House: In the Near Future

The Universal Power House project emerges from the worldwide ambitions of the Universal Power World Society, that in the 1970s planned to use its Australian house as a base to uplift future generations to a higher level of global consciousness and concern.

Perched atop Mt Universe in Campbelltown, Sydney, the planet-like design of the house embodies the proposition that, in the future, new Universal Power Men and Women would be guided by the fundamental Universal Power Laws that regulate all of nature, and all planets, galaxies and the whole universe.

Leber and Chesworth present the aspirations of the embryonic 1970s society to a new generation of people, who encounter The Creative Principle and The Universal Life Challenge as a basis for living.

An electric model of the house and a cabinet of research materials are shown alongside the video projection.

Exhibitions
Architecture Makes Us, UNSW Galleries, Sydney (2019); Architecture Makes Us, Griffith University Art Museum, Brisbane (2019); Architecture Makes Us, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne (2018); And Tomorrow And, Index–The Swedish Contemporary Art Foundation, Stockholm (2018); Looking At Me Through You, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney (2017)

Credits [video] 
Sonia Leber & David Chesworth, Universal Power House: In The Near Future, 2017, HD video, stereo, 12:30 minutes
Camerawork, editing and sound design: Sonia Leber & David Chesworth
Music: Mino Peric with David Chesworth
Performers: Maria White, Kevin Ng, Alicia Dulnuan-Demou, Ebube Uba, Harriet Gillies

Credits [model] 
Sonia Leber & David Chesworth, Universal Power House: Electric Model, 2017, acrylic, wood, lights
Fabricator: Matty Fuller
Original architect: David Liddy

Acknowledgements
Commissioned by Campbelltown Arts Centre. The artists gratefully acknowledge the support of Megan Monte, commissioning curator; Michael Dagostino director; and the staff at Campbelltown Arts Centre. The artists give special thanks to model-maker Matty Fuller for his generous commitment to the project. The artists are grateful to have received support from Anna Dzwonnik, Stefan Dzwonnik and family; original architect, David Liddy; Andrew Allen, Campbelltown City Library; Ragbir Bhatal, Campbelltown Rotary Observatory; and Australian Botanic Garden, Mt Annan.

Photo Credits
All Sonia Leber & David Chesworth
UNSW Galleries photos by Zan Wimberley