Arilyn Blog – All things augmented

AR gave new life to famous frescoes

Written by Frida Gullichsen | 20.8.2018

Art is an essential medium to tell history and stories. However, no matter how interesting the narrative told, often times the story of the art itself stays hidden. Augmented reality makes it visible.

Arilyn helped to enhance two classic pieces of art, famous frescoes by Tove Jansson, by bringing fashion journalist Sami Sykkö and nature journalist Minna Pyykkö to explore the frescoes and ponder the feelings, moods and inspirations on show within them.

Artwork Tove Jansson's "Party in the City" 1947 & "Party in the countryside" 1947
Client HAM, Helsinki Art Museum
Production Arilyn & HAM

Stories and history behind national treasures brought to life with AR 

Tove Jansson's works are among the most cherished pieces in the HAM, Helsinki Art Museum collection. The two breathtaking frescoes that form part of this experience are each over five meters wide and two meters tall.

Arilyn helped to enhance these classic pieces of art by bringing fashion journalist Sami Sykkö, and nature journalist Minna Pyykkö to explore the frescoes and ponder the feelings, moods and inspirations on show within them. With seamless interactions, available in multiple languages, museum visitors were able to understand a little more about Tove Jansson's iconic works.

Two differents make one whole

Bringing different points of view, and in-place commentary to art installations is a huge opportunity, made possible with augmented reality. Sami Sykkö analysed the decade of "Party in the City" in terms of its dress, and fashion stylings; whilst Minna Pyykkö explored the surrounding nature and historical setting, as displayed in "Party in the Countryside".

Together these frescoes combined with the commentary allows friends of Tove to get closer to her.

Campaign credits

HAM, Sykkö and Pyykkö created the scripts, Arilyn and HAM filmed the videos at the museum (to ensure a one-to-one relationship with the artwork), and Arilyn did the post-production and publishing work.

The frescoes are part of HAM's permanent collection and can still be viewed and scanned on location.