Objects in Mirror are Closer than they appear is an AR exhibition by Refrakt and took place at Berlin’s Gemäldegalerie. Without the museum’s knowledge, all 82 paintings in galleries 6, VI, VII, VIII and IX could be scanned with a newly developed app.
This guerrilla exhibition, brimgs both virtual sculptures and image alterations in contact with classical paintings. The user is invited to perceive the museum from a new perspective and interact with artwork in augmented reality.
The digital world is ubiquitous, yet invisible to the naked human eye. Refrakt, as a virtual museum revealing this increasingly relevant part of our daily lives and social interactions.
By crossing the boundaries of physical space, various objects of all kinds of media interact with the viewer's perception of parallel realities. The device being used becomes an apparatus for this new world and lets the viewer interact with his immediate surroundings.
While scanning real-life objects, he will perceive alternate realities generated by different artists. May it be rather funny interventions, as paintings leaving their frame and flying away, or applied actions that make you understand the art historical background of the painting or give a hint what kind of a story might be within the painting.
Overall, the installation makes it possible to have a playful approach to classical art rather than keeping the academic, quiet style we are used in a classical museum.
