The Nuart Journal shines a spotlight on the vibrant world of AR public art in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

In Aberdeen this past week, artists, curators, and experts in counterculture gathered to honor the fifth edition of the festival centered around mural art. NuArt festival 's Scottish mural event.

Last week marked the annual festival, which originated in Stavanger, Norway, facilitating the creation of ten stunning new murals across the Granite City, all paired with a two-day academic publication. symposium celebrating the concurrent drop of Nuart Journal All the murals featured, along with the journal, reflect this year's theme, \"Reconnect,\" which stems from the disruptions caused by the canceled 2020 festival and the shortened version in 2021. the pandemic .

During a conversation with Evan Pricco from Juxtapoz Magazine at the Belmont Filmhouse on Friday, Martha Cooper, a globally recognized photographer known for her street art documentation, mused about the possibility that Nuart Festival, established in 2006, could be considered the leading street art festival worldwide. graffiti, street art and murals Since its inception, Nuart has undergone significant transformations. New artists, evolving tastes, and changing cultural backdrops have influenced the aesthetics of their murals, yet the fundamental medium has remained remarkably consistent.

However, the latest issue of Nuart Journal takes steps to break down metaphorical barriers. This edition includes a compelling photo essay titled \"Crossing the Walls in Cairo: The Augmented Murals of Al Khalifa,\" authored by Michalczyk. Paint on a wall .

This essay delves into the research and discoveries from Michalczyk's Augmented Walls project, which is an independently developed hybrid street art initiative launched in February 2021 in Al Khalifa, a historic district of Cairo, Egypt. Egyptian artist Agnes Michalczyk Michalczyk's journey in urban art began in 2013 with unauthorized wheatpaste depictions of women in public settings, coinciding with her work on murals through the Al Athar Lina initiative of the MEGAWRA Built Environment Collective.

The Augmented Walls project introduces a new technical and conceptual dimension to her murals, which come alive using a mobile device. This initiative aims to \"forge connections across various urban narratives and diverse communities,\" while also highlighting the relationship between the rich historical context of Al Khalifa and its contemporary character. Michalczyk shares that her work embodies a blend of her fascination with visual storytelling from the streets of Cairo, her accumulated experiences from numerous mural projects, and her commitment to engage with both community members and property owners involved in her artistic endeavors. .

She explains that this project offers innovative ways to experience the city, allowing for virtual pieces to be activated through location or designated markers, which can lead to various forms of interaction—ranging from passive viewing to engaging with games or connecting to online media like videos or audio content. pairing painting with AR A glimpse into the stencils featured in Augmented Walls reveals the artistic depth at play.

Focusing on four murals that Michalczyk created last year close to the historic Mosque of Ahmad Bey Kohya, each design features striking black and white stencils reminiscent of classic comics, blending elements from traditional works like Legends of the House of the Cretan Woman with vibrant modern scenes from Al Khalifa’s streets. This fusion of historical narratives central to Egyptian identity with contemporary representations embodies the connection between past and future that her work aspires to achieve. AR Utilizing the intuitive Artvive app, Michalczyk has incorporated “a layer of virtual illustration and animation” into her murals.

After dedicating nine years to public art in this area, she actively seeks feedback from local residents. Interestingly, some older community members have expressed that the monochromatic images felt somewhat melancholic, as noted by Michalczyk. However, she recounts a heartening encounter weeks after the project concluded, where a woman shared her appreciation for the colorful AR animations she had added. the artist’s Instagram .

In her essay, Michalczyk asserts, \"Combining augmented reality technologies with traditional urban art can yield works that are both artistically relevant and socially significant.\" In a time where muralism, once a rebellious art form, is often discussed within the context of gentrification, she hopes that tools from the Metaverse can genuinely foster closer connections among the communities people call home. AR adds emphasis .

This undertaking is merely the beginning; she has also developed a tour of the murals featured in Augmented Walls, designed as \"a treasure hunt that encourages individuals to explore neighborhoods they might not typically visit.\" Additionally, Augmented Walls contributes vital research aimed at harnessing AR technology to create a virtual guide for the region and enhance visitors' experiences. activates the work in AR While tourism ideally broadens travelers' horizons, the booming and highly lucrative travel sector increasingly offers overly commercialized experiences that often lack the enriching essence needed to truly achieve that expansion.

What is clear is that meaningful experiences do not necessarily rely on extravagant installations of AR, XR, or VR technology.

For those interested, physical copies of the Nuart Journal are available for purchase. Google Maps You can also stay updated on Michalczyk's work, which explores the intersection of new media and community reconnection.

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