MoMA

new york - usa

Using AR to expand deeper engagement and understanding of artists and their work.

The Brâncusi exhibit returning to the MoMA from July 22nd to February 18, 2019 poses a moment of excitement, followed by several questions in my mind. I can only only wonder what the poster child of modern sculpture would do with the tools we have available today – particularly as it pertains to the display of his work outside the intimate context of his studio. Having participated in interactive museum exhibits both as guests and designers, we asked ourselves what it means to captivate and excite broader audiences, while also discussing different ways of engaging with art and design in an era of phone addiction. Most importantly, our line of inquiry leads to 'contextualization' — how does an exhibit engender a deeper level of understanding in the artwork while conveying the importance of context, in this case of Brâncusi's Atelier. — and how, if at all, can it be edifying and entertaining? 

In our effort to expand the life of artworks through deeper engagement and understanding, getting the audience to interact with works through modern mediums is becoming more broadly expected. It can be thought of as participatory, immersive or even interactive. People flock to exhibits offering the ability to engage in ways one wouldn’t have otherwise. And one thing is clear: the current cultural expectation is hinged not only on entertainment and social sharing, but a novel engagement – few museums have yet to do right.