There can be no doubt that the advancement of technology has had an impact on art. Not only has it increased the ability to share, consider, adore, contemplate, and purchase traditional works, it has in many instances birthed completely new forms of personal expression.

But when we discovered what APositive were doing in fusing technology and art, our jaws hit the floor.

Using augmented reality, APositive have developed an iPhone and iPad app which literally brings paintings to life. Augmented reality uses camera technology to recognise and track a painting and it then superimposes digital content onto reality in real time. Put simply, the app transforms your mobile device or tablet into a lens for a digitally enhanced view of the world.

To see it work for yourself, simply pull out your iPhone or iPad and download the APositive HERE.

When the app loads, hover it over the Skipping Girl painting below (by renowned Australian artist Jim Thalassoudis), and watch Little Audrey the Skipping Girl come to life. For this project, APositive also teamed up with UK sound designer George Vlad to create an ambient soundscape and subtle visual effects. The augment includes a custom algorithm that randomly selects and plays different sounds from the street including faulty neon lights, flapping bird wings, foot steps, traffic etc. As a result, each user can experience their own unique soundscape and can continue to listen, while they look at the original artwork.

If you don’t have an iPhone or iPad, you can relive the experience in this video:

But like everything in life, you really have to experience it for yourself. Download the app by clicking HERE and BE AMAZED!

artFido would like to thank APositive, George Vlad, and Jim Thalassoudis for letting us know about this project.  If you are in Melbourne, Australia during 13 – 17 August, you can meet Jim at the Melbourne Art Fair and see the Skipping Girl in all of its augmented reality splendor!

Here is the full augmented reality version of “Audrey: The Little Skipping Girl”:

And don’t forget, if you’re looking for a piece of original art to hang on your walls, check out artFido HERE!