AR Open

Zeena Yasir, Origami, 2021

AR Open

18 November - 28 February 2022

Al Zawraa Park Baghdad

AR Open is an art exhibition in public space space that presents via Augmented Reality (AR) new productions by Iraqi artists in Baghdad. The exhibition runs parallel to the 7th TARKIB Baghdad Contemporary Arts Festival in Al-Zawraa Park.

Artistic experiments, site-specific interventions, dreams and utopias shape the exhibition and merge the perception of the real and digital realm. Aesthetic traditions and new technologies unite in the production of the exhibition and offer a new approach to public space and the audience.

Young Iraqi artists, designers and architects worked together on the project and produced 17 artworks for the exhibition in a series of 3d-workshops. Many of the works relate to Iraqi reality and address social and personal issues that appear via Augmented Reality. The exhibition is on view via smartphone or tablet on site.

Augmented Reality is a new medium that is able to change our daily life in many ways. It can trigger imagination and creativity and challenge our perception of reality. AR connects people and ideas and facilitates cultural exchange.

Playful and subtile, the exhibition is aiming to inspire a wide audience that can expand the show through interaction with AR and their own photos and videos online. For the interested youth and creative community of Baghdad we recommend the free open-source program Blender and a visit to BAIT TARKIB creative center in Karada.

AR OPEN is a project by EMCUE and TARKIB

in cooperation with GIZ-Private Sector Development and Employment Promotion Project (GIZ-PSD)

and Arpha Program for Art and Augmented Reality.

AR Open Baghdad 2021

Rooz Mohammed, Which One of Us, 2021

Karar Saad, Contradiction, 2021

Yousif Wameedh, The Pavilion of Life, 2021

Ali Ziyad, After Infinity, 2021

Noor Ahmed, Sheherazade, 2021

Zaid Saad, Concrete, 2021

Ami Akram, Narrow-mindedness, 2021

Mahmoud Rafid, Astronoball, 2021

Mouhanad Taha, The Forgotten Wall, 2021

Maryam Hazem, Mahafa, 2021

Hella Mewis & Yousif Wameedh, In Memory of Dr. Mohammed Balasim, 2021

Alsajjad Majid, Mrad, 2021

Rooz Mohammed, Which One of Us, 2021

Salat Mahmoud, Mathematical Form for an Architectural Concept, 2021

Zeena Yasir, Origami, 2021

Sajat Mahmoud, Cocoon Pavilion, 2021

Hassenein Saleh, Palm Pavilion, 2021

Rand Saafa, The Free Forms Pavilion, 2021

AR Open Baghdad with Amir Akram's AR work Self-Mindedness, 2021

TARKIB  

The TARKIB Baghdad Contemporary Arts Institute is a platform for the production and presentation of contemporary arts, based in Karada, central Baghdad.

 The TARKIB Baghdad Contemporary Arts Festival is an annual multi-disciplinary event devoted to the independent arts scene and audience of Baghdad.

Current program:

Instagram

www.instagram.com/tarkib_baghdad

Facebook

www.facebook.com/TarkibBaghdad

Partners:

GIZ-Private Sector Development and Employment Promotion Project (GIZ-PSD)

www.giz.de

Arpha Program for Art and Augmented Reality

www.arpha.de

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

You can not see AR on a desktop computer. If you are on site with an iPad, please be sure to request the mobile version of your web-browser. We recommend the browsers Safari for iOS and Chrome for Android. To enable AR on your device, please switch on the following functions on your smartphone:

IPHONE & IPAD

Settings > Safari > Camera + Position > Allow

Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Safari Websites > While using the App

Safari > aA (url) > Website-Settings > Camera + Position > Allow

Safari > aA (url) > Request Mobile Version

ANDROID

Settings > Apps > Chrome > Permissions > Camera > Allow only when using the app

Settings > Apps > Chrome > Permissions > Location > Allow only when using the app

Settings > Location > App Permissions > Chrome > Allow only when using the app

Settings > Privacy > Permission Manager > Camera > Chrome > Allow only when using the app

Settings > Privacy > Permission Manager > Location > Chrome > Allow only when using the app

Chrome > Menu > Settings > Sites and downloads > Site permissions > Camera + Location

Chrome > Menu > Settings > Mobile Site

Noor Ahmed

Sheherazade

The story goes that the monarch Shahryar, on discovering that his first wife was unfaithful to him, resolved to marry a new virgin every day and have her beheaded the next morning before she could dishonour him. So, Scheherazade has two faces in the story: The first face is the one that she presents to the monarch. The second face is the one afraid of being killed on the next morning. The work reflects the way she tells stories and does not end them in one night.

Amir Akram

Narrow-Mindedness

Amir crestes for AR Open a selfish monster, called Narrow-Mindedness. The artwork refers to the evolution of business and the reign of monetary and private indecencies, the social misunderstanding of self-assertion and selfishness, and the resulting conflict zone between individuals and community, parents and youth, men and women. Narrow-mindedness is an animal that addresses these characteristics as a spine that folds over itself, encircled by its mental troubles, from which it can't get away.

Maryam Hazem

Mahafa

Mahafa is a simple and beautiful Iraqi handicraft with spontaneous artistic touches by nature in terms of colors and design. It is part of the Iraqi identity rooted in the memory of most Iraqi people. The art of Maryam Hazem evokes memories of the past and refers to our perception of the present. Happiness lies often in simple everyday moments, actions or objects that we oversee daily. How much is a smile worth? What of today could you be missing tomorrow?

Fabian Knecht

Alexej Assange

None

Sajat Mahmoud

Cocoon Pavilion

In chaos theory, the butterly is dependent on the initial conditions that can lead later on to a major impact of their environment. The Cocoon Pavilion of Sajjad Mahmoud is an architectural concept for the building of the Art Institute in Baghdad. The futuristic form reflects on how the institute is changing the students and making them creative artists such as the cocoon that makes the caterpillar to a butterfly.

Sajat Mahmoud

Mathematical Form for an Architectural Concept

This model explains the process of designing the block through the mathematical equation (( cos(x)*sin(y)+cos(y)*sin(x)+cos(z)*sin(x) )) and inserting it in the form of connected lines in a parametric way.

Alsajjad Majid

Mrad

How do dreams contribute to identity? Dreams are shaping our life and character and are often projections of our identity. Each one us has dreams, but no one knows if they will come true, or just disappear for new dreams to come. Alsajjad Majid refers to an Iraqi tradition, sending via AR a small boat with candles in the lake. As in The days of Zakaria, every candle represents a dream that should come true. Majid's boat carries four candles varying from a childhood dream to an artist's wish. The digital format of the work lets the flame flicker forever and keeps the dreams alive.

Hella Mewis & Yousif Wameedh

In Memory of Dr. Mohammed Balasim

The cube, designed by Yousif Wameedh, shows a photo of the mosaic with the portrait of Ibn Sina located in Karada. Ibn Sina was a Persian polymath, who is regarded as one of the most significant physicians, astronomers, thinkers and writers of the Islamic Golden Age. The mosaic was designed by Nadhim Ramzi, one of the Iraqi pioneers and is the only remnant of the once existing private Ibn Sina Hospital.

The hospital disappeared after it was expropriated by the Baath regime. The former owner of the hospital left disappointed the country. The pioneer Nadhim Ramzi was a painter, calligrapher, photographer and graphic designer. He was the first who opened a private printing company with machines of good quality and published a famous art magazine. Oday Saddam took over the company. Nadhim Ramzi left disappointed the country. Dr. Balasim Mohammed tried to organise the restauration of the mosaic, because he always took care about Iraqi art, independent of the political system around him. But he failed for specific and understandable reasons, and now he left not only the country, he left our life, but he did not leave the Iraqi cultural heritage he was always taking care about it.

Nadhim Ramzi's mosaic with the portrait of Ibn Sina in Karada is art in public space in Baghdad and belongs to the Iraqi cultural heritage and identity. But instead of 'to save Iraqi culture' the mosaic will be removed.

What can we do to safe this mosaic? Give your suggestions to the PINK ARABANA.

Rooz Mohammed

Which One of Us

The artist Rooz Mohammed presents a new series of AR works that deal with objectification of the human body. She explores the changing perception, ownership and exploitation of bodies throughout history. In different cultures and religions the human body has been objectified, especially towards women. Even in modern times, the body has a public role to play and has to deal with a number of prejudices.

Mahmoud Rafid

Astronoball

From a cosmic point of view, everything is relative. The artwork of Mahmoud Rafid deals with nothing smaller than the Universe. It creates a moment of magic that rescales the Universe to a human size and enables us an intimate intergalactic experience. A universal order seems to control everything, including our sun, planets, stars, galaxies, light and even time. We are a part of a Universe that might be a part of something else. Scientists have been arguing about the center of this Universe and about who revolves around whom. Now you have the chance to get in touch with the Universe and find your own answers.

Karar Saad

Contradiction

Karrar Saads monumental artwork is an emotional tribute to Baghdad. The AR sculpture contains the old Baghdadi and Abbasid symbols that were used and repurposed artistically to a meaning contrary to the base. The symbols used to describe perfection, stability and grandeur have become indicative of chaos and instability, while retaining their external aesthetic forms. Historically torn apart by a variety of conflicts and still much in trouble, Baghdad is a magnetic city and people love it so much. The title Contradiction seems to offer a logical explanation for that emotional affection. Would you agree?

Zaid Saad

Concrete

Would you like to reach the other bank too? You can come to our boat. Do you have any money with you? The weather is ok so far and we still have seats available. Our lifeboot is not fragile like the others. In contrast, it is very solidly built. Water cannot penetrate, waves cannot turn it, we sit on it safely. It's a new type, new generation. Made in Iraq. Are you coming?

The route is not the goal. For many people, a lifeboot represents fate and hope. In high seas, where gods cannot rule over supremacy, there is not much left beside faith and hope. Zaid Saad's AR work is titled “Concrete” and relates to a concrete reality. With a lifeboat made of concrete, the journey seems to be predestined. His artwork is a digital monument of longings, dreams and utopias. Carried by faith and hope, his digital boat cannot go down and floats over the lake like a ghost. Please jump on.

Rand Safaa

The Free Forms Pavilion

The Free Forms Pavilion is an architectural contribution by Rand Safaa that is not dominated by geometric shapes and mathematical laws, but rather by artistic expression. With respect to culture and traditions, the form is dancing around the function. Twisting lines and thoughts cross in Safaa's emotional design and result in an experimental space that visitors can explore via AR inside and outside.

Hassenein Saleh

Palm Pavilion

Hussanein Saleh presents for AR Open an architectural concept for a Palm Pavilion. Starting point is his perception of nature as a shelter of humanity. Saleh's designs is inspired by nature and evokes feelings of safety and peace, much appreciated by Iraqi people. The beauty of palm trees shapes the urban landscape of Baghdad and enchants with dynamical elegance that flows in Saleh's work organically into architecture and culture.

Mouhanad Taha

The Forgotten Wall

A wall protects and secures, and what is meant here is morality, ethics and respect. These central to Iraqi culture values have faded away in recent years with the growing distance between the old and the new generation. Elderly people are disappearing with their experience, but how can we keep and protect the beautiful part of their values?

Walls have two sides and are often considered as a symbol of division. The Forgotten Wall by Muhaned Taha is representing the opposite: solidarity and social cohesion. The bricks stand for individuals that live together and care for each other. Passing away, they don't fall down, but fly to heaven. In Tahas AR animation bricks lift up and leave irreversible gaps in the social wall that questions the future of traditions and values.

Yousif Wameedh

The Pavilion of Life

Yousif Wameedh designed for AR Open a new artwork titled Pavilion of Life that consists of a monumental wave in space. The vertical wave is challenging our concept of a pavilion and offers no further architectural foundations. The open form is twisting in the landscape with an attractive, partly transparent structure, that enables a view to the other side. The lively perspective invites us to move around it, change the angle and point of view. Wameedh's artwork is inspired by life: you can see a part of it from your perspective, but most of it is always hidden. Moving around offers a better chance to get to know it. Seen from above, the open artwork is closing its form in the symbol of infinity.

Zeena Yasir

Origami

Origami is an ancient Japanese art of paper folding. Zeena Yasir was inspired by a 3d-program for this artwork, because the software treats blocks as if they were hollow and made of paper. Experimenting with forms and materiality, Yasir created not one object for the exhibition, but a lively landscape with multiple artworks. Using 2-dimensional paper-like forms she designed a 3-dimentional fairy tale for the exhibition that is presented on a flying 3d-carpet. The artwork merges organically with the surreal beauty of Al-Zawraa Park and proves that imagination has no limits.

Ali Ziyad

After Infinity

Augmented Reality offers no limits for interaction in space and Ali Ziyad is committed to check it out by dealing with the subject of infinity. There are numerous scientific, cultural and religious concepts of infinity, and each one of us may have a personal notion of that complex topic too. Ziyad's wish for AR Open was not to express his version of it, but rather to make a step ahead: beyond infinity. This imaginary adventure that goes far beyond the sensory perception of our daily life may be coming from a dream, or conversation or of abstract thinking. Ziyad's magical artwork for the exhibition was shaped by his voyage beyond infinity and back to Iraqi reality.