Hijacking Art: Murals as an Interface Toward Augmented Reality

From health care to education, the affordances of augmented reality (AR) have been reported from countless experiences worldwide. While virtual environments refer to synthetic environments, AR superimposes digital 2D objects or 3D models in the physical world. This paper discusses two AR experiences with hijacking murals in two different locations in Ecuador. Using action research methodology, it reflects on the communicating affordances of AR by using Easy AR and Zapworks. Although in the spatial sense, AR represents an intermediate layer of digital objects or shapes; from a communication perspective, AR constitutes a deeper and wider hypertextual layer of information. It is argued that AR enhances other types of narratives and enriches visual artwork; it articulates new content and stories and gives the user a different and extended experience (UX).