Art and fresh air create new perspectives Augmented Reality on Tempelhofer Feld

Do you also have a somewhat uneasy feeling of déjà vu as winter slowly approaches? Memories of last year's lockdowns, online artist talks and outdoor exhibitions are coming back to haunt you. Seriously, the whole thing again?

At least we're a little better prepared this time around. And since it's idle to talk about the why here, let's rather devote ourselves to the current (Corona-safe) exhibitions. Because at the risk of repeating myself: What better than the combination of art and fresh air to switch off or redirect your focus?

An absolute must-see from this category, presented by Synthesis Gallery (pictures in the gallery of Colette Robbins, The Artist 2021), can currently be experienced until December 16 at Tempelhofer Feld, which itself is always worth a trip even without art. Especially late in the afternoon at sunset, but getting away from the point...

"Legacy" is an animated, site-specific augmented reality drawing in 360°, by artist Nancy Baker Cahill. It addresses the current threats of gentrification and climate change in Berlin. At the same time, it brings these challenges into the broader context and framework of the past, present and future.

Cahill, who lives and works in L.A., is considered an absolute pioneer for her work at the intersection of visual art, social justice, and new technologies such as virtual and augmented reality. Legacy is visible to visitors inside through 4thwall, a free augmented reality (AR) app launched by Cahill in 2018. So how does it work in detail?

Simply install the app on your smartphone or tablet in advance. Once you arrive at Tempelhofer Feld, you can open it without wifi access (the app does not collect any user data, by the way). Then select the Coordinates* item, hold your cell phone up to the sky and be amazed!

*Coordinates is an ongoing series of curated, collaborative and site-specific AR public art exhibitions initiated by Nancy Baker Cahill.

"Legacy" is also the first public exhibition of Synthesis Galerie, Berlin's first and leading virtual reality gallery, which has been making a name for itself with its immersive blend of technology and art since its opening in 2018. Founder and director George Vitale, of course, was already aware of how visual communication has changed our social behavior:

"The way we interact with each other, the way artists communicate their artistic message, and ultimately how art is created."

In addition to "Legacy" in the public space, Synthesis Gallery is currently presenting the NFT group exhibition Marfa Room, as well as "Sound Becomes Site: Symphony for the Metaverse," a virtual modular pavilion built to coincide with "The Wrong Biennial," which gathers artist:s, musicians, art collectives and architects in the myth-making realm of Mozilla Hubs. The pavilion will officially open on November 18, 2021, and will also include events, performances, workshops, and conversations throughout the duration of The Wrong Biennial. We love it!

Esther Harrison

Autorin Kunst Berlin