AR Advent
AR Advent is an immersive exhibition initiated by Sandra Barth in collaboration with Fern. The exhibition shows 25 doors representing the days of the month counting up to Christmas Day. Using the free Artivive app, the doors can be opened in Augmented Reality to reveal animated illustrations by nearly 50 artists and sound designers from around the globe.
With a wide variety of illustration styles, the calendar surely sweetened the anticipation of the holidays not just for children, but for everyone. Having taken place at various locations worldwide – namely Leipzig, Amsterdam, London, Helsinki and Atlanta – the exhibition presented itself to a heterogeneous audience in the public space.
Concept & Design Sandra Barth Curation Sandra Barth & fern
The concept arose from my exploration of augmented reality (AR) and the realization that the biggest obstacle to AR experiences is downloading an app. To increase interest and encourage interaction, I envisioned an experience similar to a rurprise egg — something that creates excitement and anticipation. I also wanted to develop a concept that encompassed more than just a few works of art, making the app download worthwhile.
Hence, I settled on the idea of an advent calendar. I invited 23 other artists — friends, colleagues, and industry leaders—to contribute animations that could be viewed through AR behind each door of the calendar.
AR Advent 2022 and 2023
AR Advent Poster 2023
In December 2022, the first event took place at Leipzig Main Station, a location bustling with foot traffic, targeting those who might not typically engage with animations. In addition to the exhibition, a poster documenting the project was sent to all participating artists to distribute to friends, family, or clients. Over the course of 24 days, the animations were revealed daily on social media to attract a digital audience.
With new animated contributions each year, the exhibition was held at various locations over the next two years, including Atlanta, Helsinki, Amsterdam, and London. The design was conceived from the outset to accommodate multiple formats, allowing it to easily adapt to different wall sizes. The event infused Christmas magic into unexpected places, rekindling holiday anticipation even for grown-ups while showcasing the potential applications of AR technology.
This project supports emerging artists by allowing them to collaborate with industry professionals and gain greater online visibility. It fosters connections between artists in illustration, animation, and sound design, promoting future collaborations and strengthening the community—all while piquing artists' interest in new technologies.
All animations can be found here: instagram/ar_advent
AR Advent 2024
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