ReBlink Augmented Reality App Gives A Modern Spin To Classical Art

Augmented reality has the unique ability of giving a twist to the real world, instead of creating one from scratch. It’s no wonder, then, that artists are starting to use it to complete their works or even bring others’ paintings to life. That’s what digital artist Alex Mayhew managed to do with his app, Reblink #realitymagic

The Toronto-based artist developed an app that could give a simple, classic painting a modern twist. By opening the iOS app in the Art Gallery of Ontario, visitors can see the works of art in a new light. Portraits move, subjects play and look intently into their phones, oblivious to the ones watching.

One of the art works holds an iPhone, another tries to find its best angle for a picture, while holding a selfie-stick in hand. There’s one painting of three boys that, through the ReBlink lens, can be seen checking their phones, all immersed in their respective digital experiences. But not everything is linked to Social Media; Mayhew imagines one snowy village turn into a disaster zone with a man in a biohazard suit popping out of the painting and looking eerily at visitors.

The exhibition is surprising to say the least and will stay open for those of you who love mixing art with technology until December.