This study draws inspiration from community development approaches that emphasise the establishment of global networks to facilitate the exchange of ideas and knowledge, tailored to regional contexts, needs, and cultures. Within this framework, the present research unveils a live, improvisational telepresence art performance centred around the reutilisation of discarded materials and do-it-yourself (DIY) methodologies. By creating "portals" that bridge the locales of Waihōpai Invercargill, Southland, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, and Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China, the investigation leverages cost-effective mobile technology and the creative repurposing of waste materials. The primary aim is to explore the potential of real-time play practices and intercultural engagements in engendering a captivating sense of shared and distinctive 'place' that transcends geographical boundaries. This endeavour seeks to amplify international connections and exchanges, inherent in such interactions.

As attendees of the OPSITARA Research Symposium 2023, we extend a cordial invitation for your participation in this interactive art encounter. Collectively, we aspire to nurture the spirit of playfulness, placemaking, and waste repurposing across international borders, all in real time. The collaborative initiative unfolds within the symposium's designated lobby, fostering synergies with artists hailing from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Shaoxing, China. Through the amalgamation of rudimentary mobile technology and inventive use of found materials, we endeavour to weave immersive experiences, interlocking cross-cultural narratives, knowledge dissemination, and environmental consciousness. By dynamically transforming discarded materials into art forms, each lens of cultural perspective contributes to transcending the confines of urban spaces, thereby cultivating imaginative bonds with place and space. In tandem, the study delves into the intricate interplay of divergent interpretations of play, placemaking, and the innovative repurposing of waste, mutually enriching the sustainability and holistic enjoyment of diverse locations.