London's invisible exhibition - 8th January 2021

An innovative Thames-side exhibition entitled "Unreal City" is breaking new ground in the world of art.

Herig: "You open the app, select 'Unreal City', go to life buoy number 1, and then view it. This artwork is by Koo Jeong A. It's called 'Density'."

Using an augmented reality app, art aficionados can scan QR codes located on red buoys to unveil 36 invisible sculptures during the exhibition's walking tour.

Digitally sculpted by internationally acclaimed artists, the artwork has been selected by Acute Art. Isabela Herig oversees the company's marketing.

Herig: "This piece is quite interesting also because some of the elements of the table are interactive."

With Covid-19 restrictions halting trips to art institutions around the world, "Unreal City" seeks to satisfy the appetites of art connoisseurs by reimagining the exhibition space in the public sphere and "dematerialising" its artworks.

Exhibition curator Daniel Birbaum recognises the potential of AR to place art in front of those who may be denied the opportunity to see it in galleries.

Birbaum: "One of the ideas has been to democratise art, to, in a way, make art visible in places where normally it's not visible. You know, I have nothing against traditional art fairs or museums of course, I spent my life working for such institutions. But then, you know, there are people who don't live in major capitals where there are big collections."