At the end of the year, on 30 December, 8 new artworks in Liepaja are being published on the ART+ platform – in Karosta, Jurmala Park and the Liepaja city centre. The new ART+ works are 3D visualisations of historic records, data, and research, as well as artists’ reflections on the current times and events. ART+ is a mobile app and a website that displays works in augmented reality. The digital works are placed in specific locations, to view the work, the user must download the ART+ app and go to the location of the artwork. Augmented reality allows artists to create surreal scenes, interactive works, exhibit sound art and large-scale sculptures that would otherwise be impossible to create and experience.
Artworks on view in Karosta include a 3D model of the KOD-1 aircraft, whose production was associated with the Liepaja Kara osta workshop from 1936 to 1938. Next to the Liepaja fortress battery No 3 is a cannon that was used at the end of the 19th century. Sound artist Krista Dintere has created a tribute to Liepāja’s old tram cars; the piece can be listened to near the tram placed at the North Pier. The Crooked Pine of the Karosta has also been revived in ART+. Next to the Karosta Bridge, a 3D model of the bridge is depicted as a keychain, prompting reflections on tourism, Liepaja’s recognisable symbols, their meaning and history.
An interactive work by Kaspars Levalds, a model of the industrial robot UNIMATE, is on display in Jurmala Park in Liepaja, reflecting on the changes in creative industries and our everyday lives brought about by the use of artificial intelligence.
A visualisation of Anna Priedola’s research created by 3D artist Santa France is displayed in the square near Kurzeme. The work shows recipes for “mental well-being” collected by Priedola, which she gathered from visitors’ stories at the exhibition and in the workshop series “Milk Diaries. Dementia in statistics and stories”.
In the newly built promenade in Karlis Zale Square, a colourful rain of confetti warns of the spreading of microplastics. Artist Maija Demitere is an ecological researcher, looking for ways in which art can contribute to changes in people’s everyday habits.
To use ART+ and view the works, you will need to go to the mobile app store and download (or update) the app (Google Play or Apple Store). Links to the app stores are available at: https://artplus.app. You will need a phone or a tablet with an internet connection and GPS to view the artworks. ART+ will work on iPhones newer than 6S; and Android devices with ARCore. Unfortunately, ART+ will not work on devices that do not support Google Services.
If you do not have a compatible device or are unable to travel to the locations, ART+ works are also available in a web browser and can be viewed from anywhere, on any device with an internet connection. To view ART+ works in a web browser, visit the ART+ website (https://artplus.app/). The works displayed in the browser are also created to allow ART+ viewers to plan their art viewing route and to select the works that interest them.
ART+ platform is created in Liepaja, managed by Liepaja media artists and ASTE (https://aste.gallery). ART+ works have been created with the support of Liepaja Municipality, Liepaja City Municipality Institution “Culture Department”, Kurzeme Planning Region and VKKF. KOD-1 model was created with the support of Kuldiga Digital Innovation Centre. The cannon model was made with the support of the Karosta Rescue Society.
