Creating Augmented Reality Posts in Artivive

In our artistic journey to capture the essence of Greenbooth Reservoir, we chose Artivive as our medium of design and delivery - a decision that transformed simple smartphone interactions into windows pf immersive experience. This technology allows visitors to discover hidden dimensions of art through their mobile devices, creating intimate moments of connection with the landscape.

Our creative process weaves together one-minute scenes that blend traditional paintings, virtual reality captures, flowing animations, site recordings, and collaborative musical pieces, each chosen to reflect our emotional connection to Greenbooth Reservoir. Despite technical challenges—such as resolution constraints in VR scenes and Artivive's file size limitations—we’ve turned these obstacles into opportunities for innovation. Using ColoryVR with the Oculus Meta Quest 2, we capture scenes and objects, embracing the unexpected transformations that occur when adapting images as triggers. This delicate balance is akin to a painter's palette; we sometimes must let go of beloved elements to preserve the authenticity of each subject's message. Our journey has involved creative problem-solving, as we shifted from 3D scans to video renderings due to technical constraints and translation from quality sound recordings to the phone speakers, teaching us to trust the creative process. Each component of our augmented reality experience serves as a brushstroke in a larger canvas, inviting visitors to see the reservoir not just as a location, but as a living, breathing canvas where technology and nature harmoniously coexist.

VR Scene of Cygnus

In the augmented reality space, our video layers float like transparent veils, adjustable in position and scale while maintaining their essential forms. We soften harsh boundaries with atmospheric elements like clouds, working within the app's framework much as traditional artists work within the constraints of a canvas frame.

This isn't conventional animation or videography—it's an experiential archive of our collaborative journey with local communities, captured through workshop interactions and creative exchanges.

What makes this project unique is its inseparable connection to location. While the trigger images will work anywhere, experiencing these augmented moments against the backdrop of the ever-changing reservoir landscape adds an irreplaceable layer of meaning. We've installed six posts around the site, each offering a distinct perspective that can be discovered in any sequence.

Our experience at Immersive Watergrove taught us

about audience interaction—some visitors meticulously seek out every post, while others naturally encounter just a few along their chosen path. Importantly, we've designed the installations to be visually and sonically engaging. Those who choose not to interact with the digital layer see the artwork as in a traditional installation.

Our ambition extends beyond creating memorable images, we aim to leave visitors with a deeper connection to the site's mysterious depths. Success, for us, means creating conservation around energy usage, water security, mental well-being, local history and our unique responses to a placeof beauty and a vital resource. The project continues to evolve as we revisit the site with community groups, gathering new perspectives and insights.

VR scene Electric Tapestries