Augmented reality as a tool for public art: Making a virtual monument for 10 october 2015 bomb attack victims in Ankara

Abstract

Our public space is a product of the power relationship between authority and the users of the space. As the holders of dominant power continuously impose their will over the physical and communication space, the users of the space generate countless new ways to reclaim agency. The emergence and spread of networked digital technologies during the last two decades have transformed this power relationship by providing the masses with new media. Using widely available consumer-grade computers and the internet, the users of the public space can create their communication tools and connect with others. This thesis focuses on understanding the role of one particular medium in this digital ecosystem: augmented reality.

This practice-based research studies augmented reality technology as a public art tool to intervene with power relationships in the public space of our network society, through an artwork. The artwork at the centre of the research is a virtual monument at the site of 10 October 2015 Ankara bombings. The artwork aims to harness the abilities of augmented reality technology to achieve freedom of expression in public space. The research evaluates the artwork and augmented reality as a tool for public art, by synthesising the learnings from the creative production process, the study of literature and findings from the participant tests. New media researchers, artists who practice similar work or general audience who are interested in the subject can benefit from this thesis.