VENUS ICONS BROUGHT TO LIFE THROUGH MESMERISING AUGMENTED REALITY INSTALLATION

One of the most alluring travel destinations in Europe is Venice, with its meandering canals, breathtaking architecture, and extensive history. The city has produced well-known people like the musician Antonio Vivaldi, painter Titian, and explorer Marco Polo. It also hosts the yearly Venice Biennale. This autumn, an enthralling augmented reality (AR) installation brought Venice's legendary past and contemporary art scene together.

The Anime di Venezia - Souls of Venice exhibition, created by Italian artist Lorenzo Quinn, included statues of fifteen Venetian icons that were painstakingly crafted from metallic mesh weave. The Ca' Rezzonico, an impressive building with views of Venice's Grand Canal and home to the 18th-century Museum, served as the venue for the installation. This location gave visitors a rare look into Venice's abundant culture while also enhancing the historical impact of the exhibition.

Additionally, Quinn's installation marked a change from his earlier work. Quinn used augmented reality to bring together modern technology and historical sculptures for the first time. The inanimate metal statues were given new life by a specialised augmented reality app for smartphones, which allowed us to interact with otherwise inaccessible figures.

The exhibition text states, "In experiencing the city—here and now—we are also side by side with everyone and all those who preceded us." "These Souls speak to us when we ask them questions, telling us about themselves and a city they still live in."

Souls of Venice, held in conjunction with the 60th Venice Biennale, honoured Marco Polo's 700th birthday. The exhibition acted as an evocative reminder of Venice's cultural legacy and the immortality of the historical idols that continue to shape the city today by forging a direct link between the past and present.