I feel like augmented reality pieces, much like street art, can allow people to enjoy art who perhaps might not have the time, access or inclination to visit indoor galleries.
Augmented reality has the potential to revolutionise the way art pieces are created and experienced. By blending the physical world with digital components, artists can create immersive experiences that engage the viewers on a number of different levels. Excitingly, the possibilities for combining AR with displays of art are only just beginning to be explored, from gaming apps and museum installations to live music performances and interactive street art.
It means that rather than observing a static artwork, viewers can engage with and explore the digital elements of the piece, allowing the artists themselves to delve into new ideas and perspectives. With the use of sensors and other technologies, interactive art pieces can respond to the viewer’s movements and actions, creating a unique experience for each person who engages with the work.
Last month, Sheffield City Council announced the launch of ‘Look Up’, the first augmented reality art trail of its kind in the UK, which allows smartphone users to download an app that guides them to viewing points showcasing live artworks based on rooftops across the city.
Hankong by Human Studio, part of the Look Up AR trail.
Mark Mobbs, place brand and marketing manager for city campaigns at Marketing Sheffield, said of the project: “What this has created is a platform for the city of Sheffield. As far as we are aware, no city has used augmented reality in this way before, turning their centre and buildings into a permanent and free, fun art trail.
“We want the trail to grow over time – it would be incredible if Sheffield became known around the globe as the only major city to have an AR art gallery as part and parcel of the city itself.”
However, while it may the first attempt at an interconnected AR art trail in the country, it wasn’t the first art installation of this type commissioned in the city. In November 2022, Sheffield-based artist Alastair Flindall (AKA Kunstity) unveiled Sheffield’s first augmented reality mural in Manor Park.
“The project was really about making a piece of art for the people of the area in conjunction with local residents,” Alastair told Exposed. “We wanted to celebrate the area through a piece of interactive art.”
Working closely with local organisations such as Manor & Castle Development Trust, the Green Estate and Sheffield Archives, as well as members of the public and community action groups, the artist sourced a wide variety of images reflecting the area’s history and culture. Sound recordings were provided by a local school and volunteers, while the piece itself was animated by 3D artist Nick Bounds.
The Manor Park mural pre-animation.
The resulting combination of sound, technology and artwork makes up the final package: upon pointing a camera at the mural, the wall springs to life and the viewer is provided with content to explore.
According to Alastair, the benefits from an artist’s perspective are clear to see. “A mural can only go so far; I wouldn’t have been able to include the added technology involved without hiring an indoor venue, putting on an exhibition and expecting people to turn up,” he explained.
“I feel like augmented reality pieces, much like street art, can allow people to enjoy art who perhaps might not have the time, access or inclination to visit indoor galleries.”
When the QR code is activated, various digital elements – sound, imagery and artwork – come to life across the mural.
While opening up art to a potentially wider audience, Alastair tells us that another exciting prospect is the collaborative nature of AR murals allowing a wider pool of artists to get involved. People across the world can quite easily submit digital elements to a given project, and there’s even the potential to ‘update’ these pieces at a later date to tell new stories or build on what’s gone before.
“The idea was that this would be a living piece, a living archive, and perhaps in ten years’ time, it could be updated. But another key aim was that we’d produce a piece that had a cross-generational element to it, something that could reflect the pride that the people we spoke to had in the area, and I think we’ve managed to achieve that.”
Though AR has been employed in advertising and gaming for some time (the Pokemon Go app is perhaps the most famous example), exploration for its use in murals and virtual art galleries is still very much in its infancy.
Artist Alastair Flindall AKA Kunstity: “I feel like augmented reality pieces, much like street art, can allow people to enjoy art who perhaps might not have the time, access or inclination to visit indoor galleries.”
“It may be relatively new for the art world, but [AR] is not new when it comes to everyday use for most people,” says Alastair. “Think of filters on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat – it’s kind of where we’re heading in general and AR is almost certainly going to become a bigger part of our day-to-day. I guess there’s always going to be some sort of backlash with anything new, whether that’s in the art world or any walk of life. The reactions I had from people while working in Manor Park, however, were overwhelmingly positive and when I explained there was an interactive element to the mural, it made it feel a bit more special.”
It would seem that AR is not only here to stay, but will grow to play an ever more significant role in our daily lives. It has already demonstrated its potential to transform various industries such as healthcare, education, entertainment and retail. When it comes to how we view and consume art, the possibilities could lead to hugely exciting results in terms of greater access, collaboration and interaction. With members of Sheffield’s creative populace currently at the forefront of exploring that future, who knows where it might lead in years to come?
To download the Look Up app, head here.
To see more of Alastair’s work, head here. The Manor Park Mural is located at Manor Park Centre.
