Augmented Reality Ad Take-Over

Maxi — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:46:53 +0000

A little over a week ago PublicAdCampaign and The Heavy Projects launched the AR I AD Takeover in Times Square, NY. The Augmented Reality Junaio channel used 5 separate ad campaigns to trigger their own replacement with the artwork of 5 of their favorite public space artists including, Ron English, John Fekner, PosterBoy, OX, and Dr. D.

After challenging outdoor advertising’s supremacy in public space for the past 10 years by illegally re-appropriating physical advertising venues, PublicAdCampaign has raised awareness but -according to Jordan Seiler- made little progress in their ultimate goal of completely removing outdoor signage from our shared environment.

With the advent of Augmented Reality the rules are beginning to change as to who can claim ownership to public space and we are excited to be on the cutting edge of this new adventure to redefine the visual landscape of our shared public environment. Though we prefer a redefinition of reality over the redefinition of an augmented or projected one.

Augmented Reality Advertising Takeover (AR | AD) from The Heavy Projects on Vimeo.

Personal thoughts of Jordan Seiler on the subject and a little future shock:

“While augmented reality is still in its infancy, it will not be long before AR becomes an integral part of our daily lives and augmentation becomes a common occurrence as we navigate the real world. Typical uses of AR today, such as information overlay and navigation tools, will give way to physical alterations that will forever change how we perceive the world around us. Most notably for PublicAdCampaign our visual environment will give way to endless editability.

“It is not far fetched to imagine simple AR based visual alterations such as the font on road signage, the number of trees on your block, or the way artistic and commercial imagery are represented in our shared public space. While these changes will alter society in profound ways, their outcome is not predetermined and will no doubt be highly legislated as we cope with the increasing benefits and detriments of a user defined hyper-real world.

“Questions of what one can and cannot legally change about the real world will arise as it would be unwise for motorists to receive road signs in an unreadable font. With obvious restrictions needed, the virtual world will quickly become a semi defined space as our public environment exists today. And yet it will be these definitions, or lack thereof that will allow this new technology to usher in an age of democratic public space usage unheard of in our time. In light of this, the advertising industry is already talking about how augmented reality will alter power dynamics in public space and forever change the supremacy of private property and the conveyance of private commercial interests in public space. No doubt this industry will do its best to continue to control our visual public environment in an augmented future.

“As we move forward we must remain vigilante in our promotion of an open virtual public space in which democratic uses do not give way to private ownership, allowing for the infinite potential of a democratized shared visual landscape.”

Support to Own

Maxi — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 11:36:45 +0000

Jordan Seiler and his team are personal heroes of mine. Their PublicAdCampaign projects in New York and Toronto combat the inundation of illegal advertisement by exchanging ads with art and, as a result, make people aware of the visual pollution, we’ve all gotten so used to. For many years, their public works have been self funded, but as their efforts continue to grow in scale, effectiveness, and visibility, they are finding it difficult to keep up the fast-pace they have set for themselves.

To be able to continue to support themselves autonomously they are offering five photographs that represent the heart of the PublicAdCampaign project; unabashed use of public space in an effort to critically engage our shared urban environment, and create lines of communication for a collaborative consideration of our constructed habitat.

Jordan Seiler explains: “It is, thus, with a hint of reluctance, tempered by great belief in the value of the work we do, that we offer these documentary images in return for your financial support. There are a total of 5 prints available 4 of which are documents of PublicAdCampaign installations we are particularly fond of. Each print comes as a digital C-print signed in an edition of 10 at 16×20 inches. As well we have one installation image taken by our good friend Adam Amengual. This print is available in an edition of 20 and proceeds will be split between the PublicAdCampaign project and the Photographer.”

Here is a beautiful short documentary on Jordan Seiler’s work by Pilar Haile-Damato.

My (public) Space from Pilar Haile-Damato on Vimeo.

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Augmented Reality Ad Take-Over

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