An Immersive Art Experience – Evidence Based Art Gallery Design Tahmeed Chowdhury | ID 4388 | Spring 2022 | Professor Erin M. Hamilton, Ph.D.
Abstract
Introduction
Experts say art creates experiences for individuals, teaching them something new that motivates them to think and sense beyond their perspective. The goal of this project is to design an immersive art gallery through gathering sufficient evidence from a review of scholarly articles related to museum user experience and expert interviews to generate innovative design solutions that will inspire its visitors. Frequent visitors indicate museums can often be "too cold and empty." This project asks, what environmental design features should be considered to create an enjoyable and engaging gallery experience? Research suggests a combination of augmented and virtual reality experiences are useful for engaging visitors in an interactive and immersive art experience. Therefore, suites with glass walls will be implemented for artists to be able to have a platform to showcase their live painting process during gallery exhibits. Inclusion of a cocktail bar where mixologists are serving avant-garde drinks will allow visitors to grab a drink and roam around freely while enjoying live painting. Technology will be implemented into the exhibits to integrate virtual reality experiences. The final product of this research will be the design of an evidence-based immersive art gallery focusing on user experience, proper lighting, space planning, and wayfinding, centered around the combination of AR and the physical world to enhance the art experience of visitors.
Art galleries these days have grown more corporate and art works are seen as financial assets. However, with the rise of immersive exhibitions, the narrative is being shifted. The “Frida-Immersive Dream” is a widespread example for immersive experiences where the visitors get to “immerse themselves in the art and life of Frida”. With the rise of digital technologies, visitors now anticipate an extravagant experience. Curators are dealing with a generation with a short attention span who expect a touchscreen experience and instant gratification. Technology has gained popularity because it makes learning enjoyable, however, the beauty of creating physical artwork must not diminish. Thus, it only makes sense to create an experience through the blending of augmented reality with physical artwork.
Findings
There are two major solutions to achieving an immersive experience where the digital and physical word meets. This include the incorporation of technology for interaction such as the inclusion of augmented reality blended with physical artwork and studio suites with glass walls for live painting for the visitors to observe. Through watching artists paint in their studios, visitors will be getting a behind the scene experience of creating art. In contrast, as a creative technology itself, augmented reality preserves the authentic value and freshness of art. Furthermore, wayfinding will create a seamless and holistic environment for visitors to understand their surroundings.
Faith Hart – Faith Hart is a 19-year-old female from Houston, TX, who visits museums and galleries frequently. Furthermore, she has a monthly subscription at the Menil Collection. Some of her favorite museums include the Menil Collection, the Louvre, the MoMA, and the MET. The main reason why she visits art galleries is because it makes her think, feel, and consider realities beyond her perspectives. Moreover, it is an open-eyed meditation for her.
Inspiration for incorporation of Augmented Reality with physical art for an immersive experience. Skylight to allow natural lighting in the studio.
Project Goal
Design Considerations
Expert Interview (Hart, 2021)
To provide an immersive art experience to inspire visitors.
Suites with glass walls for artists to rent it out as their studio space. This can be showcased during exhibitions as live painting and for visitors to be able to walk through to have an immersive art experience.
Technological Kingdom, 2011 exhibits are increasing in popularity and prices are becoming more affordable. Therefore, incorporating Augmented Reality with physical art inside the gallery will create a multisensory experience.
To engage museum Storage and visitors in an charging stations at interactive and the reception desk immersive blend of to store tablets and physical and virtual, other devices as if it was a single necessary to unified “world”. checkout for the AR experience.
Visitor shyness is common during exhibitions. Providing a sense of guidance can help minimize it.
To provide a sense of interaction among visitors through technology and create a welcoming environment.
Inclusion of information kiosks and technology embedded artwork with buttons to change information with history and background of the gallery within the kiosk.
A physical Scott, Hinton-Smith, To provide a sense environment, and its Harma, & Broome, of guidance, build architectural 2013 confidence and give characteristics, the visitors a sense have a significant of direction. influence on the movement of visitors. Physical characteristics become landmarks which allow individuals to prepare a cognitive representation of their physical environment.
Inclusion of landmarks such as an extravagant flooring design, lighting fixture, or a staircase.
Scott, Hinton-Smith, Harma, & Broome, 2013
This extravagant staircase acts as a landmark in the gallery area. This will allow individuals to prepare a cognitive map of their physical environment. Art Studio Suites with Glass Wall:
Design Considerations - Through integrating augmented reality with physical art, visitors will be immersed in a restorative environment. As a result, they will be provoked to think, feel, and consider realities beyond their perspectives.
Cabinets with countertop and shelves to keep paint, brushes, and other art supplies organized
Princeton Wright- Princeton Wright is an artist and owner of Wright Art Twins Gallery in Dallas, TX. To provide opportunities for artists is his favorite thing about being an art gallery owner. To keep art pieces organized at the gallery, he has a designated area to store them which is categorized by artist. Specific paints and paint brushes that he uses majority of the time are kept together and nearby. Further away, he keeps all the miscellaneous paint, brushes, and supplies that he doesn’t use much but might need. Design Considerations - Cabinets and shelves will be provided to keep paint, brushes, and other art supplies organized. A movable cart will be available for artists to keep essential art supplies nearby. Temperature controlled room will be designed to store art pieces. There will be shelves where the pieces can be stacked vertically in an orderly system to find the pieces easily.
Frequent visitors say, the spatial design art galleries can be “too cold or empty sometimes”. Creating an enjoyable experience may eliminate that feeling.
Sources of Evidence
Design Implementation
Methods 1. Article Reviews- Scholarly articles were reviewed using the keywords multisensory, immersive, art gallery, museum, virtual reality art, augmented reality art, futuristic architecture, etc. The databases used in the keyword search were google scholar and JSTOR which were accessed through the Texas Tech University Libraries in the fall of 2021. 2. Expert Interviews- Three experts, Faith Hart, Princeton Wright, and Preston Wright were interviewed during this research. After asking a series of questions I was able to determine issues pertaining to designing an art gallery. This helped me produce innovative design solutions to develop the art gallery.
Issues, Problems, Needs
Inclusion of display screens that are touchscreen, create a fun learning experience and encourage visitors to interact
Movable cart to keep essential art supplies nearby
Proper signage and labels with direction. For example, signs with name of the room and art labels with artist name and background.
References Preston Wright - Preston Wright is an artist and co-owner of Wright Art Twins Gallery in Dallas, TX. He has performed live paintings at his gallery multiple times, and he enjoys when people are encouraged to ask questions about his work. He also likes knowing their perception and being able to tell them what he was feeling or thinking while creating the piece. This helped the visitors develop an understanding of how art is curated Design Consideration - Studio suites will be designed with glass walls for visitors to be able to interact with artists.
Exterior Concept Sketch Process:
Scott, S., Hinton-Smith, T., Harma, V., & Broome, K. (2013, November). Interactive Art and Visitor Shyness. JSTOR. Retrieved September 13, 2021, from https://www-jstor-org.libe2.lib.ttu.edu/stable/symbinte.36.4.417?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_conte Kingdom, A. (2011). Interactive exhibits used to make museums exciting: visitors are finding videowalls, interactive tables illuminating. Government Video, 22(10), 15. Bourdeau, L., & Chebat, J. C. (2001). An empirical study of the effects of the design of the display galleries of an art gallery on the movement of visitors. Museum Management andCuratorship, 19(1), 63-73. Ebrahem, S., Alsaadani, S., El Sayad, Z., & Elseragy, A. (2018). Exploring multi-sensory designed architectural spaces. International Journal of Architectonic, Spatial, and Environmental Design, 12(4), 15–24. https://doi.org/10.18848/2325-1662/CGP/v12i04/15-24 Claire Eason. (2020). Design Thinking: Steps Toward Accessible Architecture. Crit (Washington), 86,77–80.
Integration of augmented reality in the physical world gives us a peek into the future. Thus, the exterior design style of the art gallery will be futuristic.
Ebrahem, S., Alsaadani, S., El Sayad, Z., & Elseragy, A. (2018). Exploring multi-sensory designed architectural spaces. International Journal of Architectonic, Spatial, and Environmental Design, 12(4), 15–24. https://doi.org/10.18848/2325-1662/CGP/v12i04/15-24