Dance with flARmingos is a hybrid art and curatorial project that reimagines land art and land use, and draws parallels between the phantom-presence of augmented reality (AR) and equally intangible notions of The Future. This project features the artwork of 21 artists: Morehshin Allahyari, Peter Baldes, Shamus Clisset, Ben Coonley, Eteam, Lily & Honglei Art Studio, Kristin Lucas, Rosa Menkman, Brenna Murphy, Eva Papamargariti, Will Pappenheimer, Tabita Rezaire, Alfredo Salazar-Caro, Rick Silva, Mark Skwarek, Jack Stenner, Thomas Storey, V5MT, Miyö Van Stenis, and Giselle Zatonyl
Role in Production: concept, direction, conversion of many of the 3d model submissions into Augmented Reality, Augmented Reality animation, interaction design, contribution of 1 AR work of my own.
Additional assistance with the conversion of 3d models into Augmented Reality by Will Pappenheimer. Web design assistance from Joe McKay. Augmented Reality database software by Thomas Storey.
Additional information:
For Dance with flARmingos as a part of the Queens International 2016, Kristin Lucas has collaborated with 21 national and international artists to create 3D augmented reality works that are geolocated to different locations in and around the Queens Museum.
The American flamingo has had a phantom presence in Florida for the past one hundred years after being hunted to near extinction for its eggs, plumes, and meat, yet perversely images of this charismatic colorful wading bird flourish in tourism and fashion industries. Over the past few years a small flock has returned to the protected wetlands of the Everglades, and flamingo populations worldwide are on the rise; a positive outcome of global conservationist efforts. However, human activity has made all flamingo species more vulnerable than ever before, as anthropogenic disturbance, habitat destruction, and climate change threaten to diminish their natural habitats.
In “Dance with flARmingos” the flamingo acts as embassador and concierge to the project. Both the consummate showman and the embattled victim of environmental neglect, it is the act of scanning an image of this paradoxical bird that launches the augmented reality exhibition.
Drawing parallels between the phantom presence of augmented reality and equally intangible notions of “the future”, given the rapid progression of global technological and environmental changes, Lucas prompted each artist to create a virtual work envisioning the future of Land Art and land use. By using digital tools to envision physically improbable scenarios, the artists have produced haunting new realities that provoke broader conversations about culture, social issues, climate change and environment.
Visitors can access the virtual sculptures via Layar, a free Augmented Reality camera app that can be downloaded onto any smartphone. Once the app is downloaded use the instructions on the map to locate each work!
Note: The day the documentation was recorded there was poor phone reception in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. I need to return to document two additional works in the show.
