Landmark China: An Augmented Reality Project

F1. Landmark AR: Tiananmen Square

Concept: Deploying communication technologies and contemporary art expressions, artists elevate 'mobile phone experience' to in-depth exploration on our surrounding world, to discover hidden meanings under surfaces. The Landmark China Augmented Reality project will be installed at varied tourist attractions throughout China, and link those locations to Chinese cultural spirit, or current social challenges, therefore inspire audience to further examine the 'reality.'

How it works: Landmark China is consisted of a series of site-specific installations that are invisible in physical space, but  viewable on screen of a mobile phone. The mobile phone application uses geolocation software to superimpose artwork (the augmentation) at the precise GPS coordinates of a desired site, where audience can see the augmentation integrated into the physical location as if it existed in the real world (F1, F2).

F2. Landmark AR: Chang'an Avenue

What to see: We are developing three types of Landmarks: 1. Landmarks with Cultural Spirit; 2. Landmarks of Current Social Turbulence;  3. Landmarks of Social-Environmental Crisis. Resurrecting historical figures conveying free spirit, or reviving a scenario questioning the superficial prosperity, the Landmarks redefine human environment of current popular tourist attractions throughout China. Audience can immediately perceive the 'layered' reality on a cell phone screen: art, politics, history and culture, which are deeply connected.

Display: While the actual work needs to be experienced on site with an iPhone or Android device, there are a number of ways displaying documentation of  Landmarks in galleries and museums:  Image of Screenshot in forms of print, light-box; video documentation, particularly for Landmarks with animated components.

*Landmark: Forbidden City 故宫
- Ji Kang

Mobile Phone Screenshot: Ji Kang, the famous member of 'non-cooperation' movement
in ancient China, plays qin at execution ground of Forbidden City

Painting of Ji Kang

* Landmark: Great Wall 山海关
- Meng Jiang Nv crying (coming soon)

*Landmark: Great Hall of the People 人民大会堂
- Mad Drummer 弥衡

Mobile Phone Screenshot: Mi Heng (173-300), the Mad Drummer,
scoffs treacherous court official, at Great Hall of the People, Beijing

Painting of Mad Drummer

* Landmark: Three Gorges Dam 三峡大坝
 - Qu Yuan 屈原
 

Mobile Phone Screenshot: Qu Yuan, the upright official
and great poet's spirit emerges at Three Gorge Dam

Painting of Qu Yuan

* Landmark: West Lake in Hangzhou  杭州西湖
- Lady White 白娘子
 

Mobile Phone Screenshot: Lady White, the spirit fighting
for love and freedom, at West Lake, Zhe Jiang province.

Painting of Lady White

* Landmark: Tiananmen Tower  天安门城楼
- 3 Young Men Defacing Mao's Portrait

Mobile Phone Screenshot: 3 young men threw eggs filled with paint
at Mao's portrait on Tiananmen Tower, during 1989 Student Protest

Painting of 3 Young Men Defacing Mao's Portrait

* Landmark: Shanghai World Expo China Pavilion  世博会
- Yang Jia  riding bicycle (coming soon)

* Qian Yunhui + city of Yueqing in Zhejiang Province  (coming soon)


* Landmark: Bird Nest Stadium of Olympic Game  鸟巢
- 2008 Sichuan Earthquake Monument

Mobile Phone Screenshot: School rubble as Monument of
2008 Sichuan Earthquake, at Bird Nest Olympic Stadium Beijing

Painting of School rubble of 2008 Sichuan Earthquake

(in process, more coming soon)