The Goal: To Transform An Entire City Into An Augmented Art Museum

THE STORY

Patrick & Holly Kahn of SNAP Art Gallery based in Orlando, Florida wanted to do something different and innovative. They became intrigued with the possibilities of Augmented Reality. After realizing how everyone today carries a smartphone they began to contemplate how it could also act as a lens into a whole other world layered on top of our own. Seeing some early work done by BrandXR they began the process of brainstorming a city wide, ongoing public art exhibition that would continuously grow.

In November 2018, Snap! Orlando unveiled ‘CITY UNSEEN,’ an ongoing public art project which opens artistic borders by launching the city into

Augmented Reality [ AR ] experiences, with fusions of works by internationally renowned artists and cutting-edge AR technology.

City Unseen concept was designed to push the artistic boundaries of this new medium to connect Orlando to a global conversation about how to use emerging technology to create higher forms of art and educational experiences. The project enhances viewers’ perspectives on art, dimensional reality, and perception, adding another layer of cultural significance to the Orlando region.

You can learn more on the official website CityUnseen.us

THE SOLUTION

The City Unseen app was made with the BrandXR platform for Apple iOS and Google Android SmartPhones which would allow anyone to download the app and then physically visit several locations throughout Orlando to view a unique AR experience. Each respective AR art experience was crafted by the featured Artist, our BrandXR engineers and SNAP Cultural Arts Orlando.

THE RESULTS

The CITY UNSEEN app is available for users to enjoy the full range of [AR]t installations at 6 separate locations throughout the city effectively creating a form of local cultural tourism. City Unseen now positions Orlando as a pioneer with a new vision for the fusion of art and technology in the 21st century and serves as a platform for discussion about social, cultural, and environmental issues affecting those around us.

It is very important that the art doesn’t fall behind and that we, as a city and as an art organization, are not left behind, It’s almost like having a museum throughout the city. That’s the idea.

— PATRICK KAHN, SNAP GALLERY ORLANDO