PUTTING THE AR INTO ART

As the global art world gradually takes to augmented reality, Singapore’s artists are adapting it to a very local context

- Joanna Lobo

There’s a tree stump on a grassy patch in the financial district of Singapore. It’s not of a real tree, but a 3D-printed artwork created in honour of Changi Tree (also called Time Tree), the city-state’s tallest at 76 m. The artwork, the largest 3D-printed structure in Singapore, is meant to reflect the passage of time, and is a fascinating glimpse at what the tree would’ve looked like if it hadn’t been chopped down during World War II, to prevent the Japanese from using it as a ranging point. And yet, turn a phone on the artificial stump, and suddenly it starts spiralling inward. The spirals are made of text that mention important events in Singapore’s history, and indicate how humans mark the passage of time.

The Time Tree is one of six street artworks, part of Singapore Art Week, which uses augmented reality (AR), a combination of the real and virtual where physical objects are augmented with perceptual and sensory information using technology. It creates an interactive interface between the artwork and the viewer. This confluence of the world of art and AR have opened up new possibilities, helping free art from the confines of galleries and reach a whole new audience.

“AR offers the chance to contextualise artworks in Singapore by engaging visitors in new ways,” says Kay Poh Gek Vasey, chief connecting officer of technology studio MeshMinds. “Through AR, we can engage viewers to have a deeper curiosity, understanding, and memory of the artist and the artwork. By harnessing digital technologies we hope to increase public participation in the arts.”