Is This Real?

Squamish's first augmented reality exhibition has landed!

Squamish’s environment is being augmented by digital flying bags, floating ghosts, twisting water whorls, eagles and trigons, orca ancestors, and more through its first augmented reality exhibition, the popup: “Is This Real?”.

This innovative temporary installation immerses locals and visitors alike in a unique blend of art and technology, showcasing the digital work of six Canadian artists, through augmented reality and an in the form of an eye-catching, colourful stack of cubes. “Is This Real?” debuted at the Squamish Arts Festival on 10th August and has since been exhibited at the August Jack Plaza, and is set to move to the Brackendale Art Gallery on 1st September through mid-September.

Augmented reality art is art that is digitally viewable through our phone/device that lets us experience an additional layer to our world. This first-of-its-kind event is designed to transform Squamish into an immersive gallery, inviting participants to explore art in a completely new dimension. Squamish folk can experience the digital art of these featured Canadian artists through the Instagram app. The art can be accessed by scanning the QR code on the artist information panels, which loads Instagram stories, augmenting the environment through the Instagram app and our phones or ipads.

The exhibition was curated and built by our Director, Melanie Lazelle, along with digital support by digital partner Joshua Conrad of Slow Studies Creative, thanks to a Squamish Arts grant.

Melanie shared:

“I think AR art is a fun way of creating immersive environments and making you feel like you are in a different place for a moment of time with your environment changing around you. I’m excited to be able to bring some AR art to the streets of Squamish because I wanted to share this digital art form with our community. The possibilities are endless for sharing stories, histories, environmental and social messages, and changing our viewpoints – literally. While the technology is still changing and improving and this can provide barriers, such as the art having to be viewed through a platform such as Instagram, it’s developing quickly and this is just a snapshot of what can be done with technology and creativity”.