ReBlink: AGO
ReBlink is an interactive exhibit which takes place July 6th, 2017-April 8th, 2018. While it may look like any other ordinary art exhibit, it is actually quite fascinating. Created by Alex Mayhew, ReBlink is an interative installation using the AGOs very own historical paintings.
How does he do it you ask? Well, Mayhew has used cameras in order to manipulate an image. The installation provides you with tablets so that you may hold the camera up to the paintings, to see the changed images. There is also a ReBlink AGO app that is available on the app store and google play, in case there are too many people in line for the tablet (in my case, there were quite a few people waiting in line). An easy way to describe how he does this painting detection, would be to make a comparison to snapchat filters which most people use. Instead of using face detection to make the users face change a certain way, Mayhew has made the camera, controlled by the user, change the painting it is placed in front of.
The inspiration behind this exhibit was to show people a little modern day twist, on some classic art pieces. As stated in the description when you first walk into the gallery: “As you explore ReBlink, consider a few questions: How has our world changed? How has it remained the same? Are we better or worse off?” Leaving you with many thoughts as you wander around the gallery. Using technology and interactivity, Mayhew does an excellent job at modernizing some very old pieces of art, “refresh[ing] the traditional gallery viewing experience.” (http://www.alexmayhew.com/portfolio-items/reblink/)
Alex Mayhew is a New Media artist who has received international credibility from his use of technology and softwares in his art installation projects. When you step into the ReBlink exhibit, it is constantly busy of people wanting to see changing pictures for themselves, with curious minds. This way of viewing artwork has really brought in a crowd, and made walking around and looking at hundreds of years old art that cannot be touched, a little more hands on and interactive. Moving across the exhibit and viewing the artworks, it can really bring to your mind the question of, what really IS the same as it used to be? We have evolved so much over time that we barely even recognize old paintings anymore because it just simply is not how we live. But seeing a painting of Jesus holding a starbucks cup on a macbook computer, really gets a viewer thinking.
