With over 30 augmented reality (AR) activations in 10 locations across Downtown KL, the inaugural Augmented Reality Festival Kuala Lumpur or AR FEST KL promises four captivating elements, featuring living murals and fine art pieces, monumental digital sculptures as well as interactive AI historians, inviting audiences to explore the city through a new lens, blending past, present and future.

To the uninitiated, Augmented Reality (AR) is an interactive experience that combines the real world and computer-generated 3D content.

With AR FEST being Malaysia’s first-of-its-kind digital festival presented in Augmented Reality (AR), this festival will bring together industry professionals, artists, students and the public to explore technological innovation as well as experience Kuala Lumpur city as a dynamic canvas of immersive creativity and cultural vitality.

In the heart of the project are AR FEST KL’s four core programmes – StreetARt, ARca, ARtworks and CheritAR – which will each come alive across some of Kuala Lumpur’s most notable landmarks, from the National Art Gallery, National Textile Museum, Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad and Victoria Fountain to the bustling streets of Jalan Sultan, Lorong Panggung, Jalan Petaling and Jalan Tun H.S Lee. Digital artworks can be found nestled among the nooks and crannies of Kwai Chai Hong, REXKL, GMBB and The Starhill.

StreetARt

…calls on Malaysians to rediscover the city and craft a new urban narrative by merging everyday murals into interactive canvas through AR. The striking works of mural artists such as Cloakwork, Co2, JimmyGummy, Kenji Chai & Quiccs, Norman Khek, Wan Jepah, etc. can now be reimagined through AR technology, unlocking deeper stories through energetic hues and playful digital elements. Standing tall on the facade of REXKL, the late graffiti artist Orkibal’s mural was purposefully selected as one of the AR canvases to honour his lasting influence on urban art and creative legacy.

ARca

…offers a geolocation-based adventure, where larger-than-life digital sculptures – from the iconic Wau Bulan, to the Kancil car, lush rainforests, batik motifs, orangutans as well as nostalgic childhood mementos – are waiting to be discovered. Audiences are invited to dive deep into the explosively bold fusion of art and technology, where each AR sculpture is a vibrant reflection of Malaysia’s diverse culture and heritage, all set against the lively backdrop of The Starhill.

Good to know: The AR works behind StreetARt and ARca are created by professional digital artists, creative technologists, lecturers and students from local universities. The creators were selected through an open call held in July 2024, and their creativity and technical excellence will be honoured at an awards ceremony taking place at the end of November 2024.

ARtworks

… is where tradition meets technology in collaboration with the National Art Gallery, the heart of Malaysia’s artistic heritage. Through the integration of innovation, five iconic fine artworks – Pago-Pago by Abdul Latiff Mohidin, Night in Langkawi by A.J. Rahman, Camera View of a Group of Laughing School Children by Kok Yew Puah, Malaysian Life by Chuah Thean Teng and Enrique de Malacca by Ahmad Fuad Osman – are complemented by interactive elements, offering audiences an immersive experience to appreciate and connect with the timeless essence of these masterpieces.

CheritAR

…seeks to reshape how Kuala Lumpur’s rich narratives are explored through AI-powered avatar historians. Located at three historical landmarks – Sultan Abdul Samad Building, National Textile Museum and Victoria Fountain, visitors are able to engage with captivating tales of the city’s past through animated storytelling and interactive technology, transforming a heritage walk around Dataran Merdeka into a dynamic journey. CheritAR is supported by Think City’s Creative Kuala Lumpur Grants Programme and DBKL to create an intersection of history, culture and innovation throughout the city.

The festival is co-organised by EDT, Studio Behind 90 and Evertreasure. Its strategic partners include Think City, DBKL, Filamen, GMBB, IMMERSE KL by MDEC, Inworld, KLIF, Kreatif KL Festival, Kwai Chai Hong, National Art Gallery, REXKL, The Starhill and RUBIX Communications. 

Learn more about AR FEST KL as well as view the full list if events through their official website or Instagram.

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