AR Creators Shine at the Parallel Programmes of India Art Fair

The advocates of the dichotomy that exists between art and technology have often debated how art thrives on creativity and ingenuity while tech is all about precision and efficiency. But far from it, today, the two thrive on a symbiotic relationship where technology has become a tool for artistic expression. As is evident Augmented Reality (AR) is giving artists a new medium to express their ideas– one that combines interactive mediums to explore their creativity. Nowhere was it more evident than at the India Art Fair, where under its Young Collectors' Programme, ‘fAR out’ by PlucTV and Snap India, presented AR filters created by budding AR creators from across the country.?

AR offers artists a territory that’s a vast canvas for creativity, where they can intersperse the physical world with digital overlays, allowing the viewer a never-before experience. Aptly termed the ‘Embassy of Creation’, each lens created under ‘fAR out’ is at the intersection of art, nature and optimism. The AR creators from tier 2 and tier 3 cities of the country have created AR filters that open up the relationship between the creator and the recipient by inviting viewers into a dynamic dialogue. Taking forward the true democratisation of art, ‘fAR out’ also organised a workshop where creators taught participants how AR filters can help them share their stories.?

True to its spirit to broaden the conversations around art, India Art Fair, in its 15th edition, extended beyond its venue at NSIC Exhibition Grounds, Okhla, into a month-long ‘Parallel Programme’ at STIR in Chattarpur, Delhi. With talks, workshops, and performances, the Parallel Programme provided festival goers a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the vibrant South Asian art discourse offered by Delhi's thriving artistic ecosystem.

And when it’s about art, AR can’t be far away anymore. With Apple’s Vision Pro firmly looking at making AR a significant aspect of digital technology, AR creators are on a roll. Emerging artists are reshaping the art landscape and AR creators through virtual events are making cultural experiences more accessible.?

In local communities, AR creators can join hands with land artists, fostering unique cultural experiences. This was the idea that gave shape to the launch of ‘fAR out’ at the Sā festival, held last year in Disko valley in Leh. With ‘fAR out’, AR Creators and Land Artists got together at Sā festival, one of South Asia's Highest ever Contemporary Art Exhibitions to build digital experiences for art installations demonstrating how AR seamlessly enhances the festival experience. It provided captivating visual storytelling and interactive art interactions for the festival audience engaging with physical art forms.??

Today, AR creators revitalised contemporary art and gave storytelling a new life. Take for instance, the work of Krunal MB Gediya. An AR creator from Mumbai, he created an artwork that is a blend of traditional art, AR, and artificial intelligence (AI). When a user scans the image, it comes to life with a bird in motion, the river flowing, clouds moving, and the vivid green and pink elements dynamically interacting with each other.

Art and tech are colliding in never before seen ways, AR creators, through the power of storytelling, are reimagining the way art is presented to its audience. Unlike in the physical form, where art is confined to a physical space, AR allows art to be an extension of the consumer. AR with its powerful interplay of animations, videos, text, and audio onto original art, gives storytelling a new push. It allows creators to convey untold backstories and reimagine narratives under a new lens.?

AR wasn't new to the India Art Fair. With an aim to “humanise technology and give a platform to digital artists”, last year the fair featured a dedicated space for tech-meets-art projects and installations, including works of ‘Digital Artists in Residence’, made on iPad Pro.?

Know more about fARout and how creators have used AR filters with land artists?