Sandwich Board – ‘Virtual’ Replicas
Above: Screenshots of the placed Sandwich Board ‘virtual’ replica at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff (left) and the artists home (right).
The sandwich board, worn in performances by the artist Garrett Lynch’s representation in Second Life (and by the artist in ‘real’ life), is left as an artefact in ‘virtual’ locations to mark where performances have occurred. To date these have included locations in Second Life and Google Earth.
With this version of the Sandwich Board created for the augmented reality browser Layar, the ‘virtual’ artefact from Second Life and ‘real’ spaces are combined. ‘Virtual’ copies of the board can be left in ‘real’ spaces which are seen through the lens of a location aware device such as a 3G phone or tablet creating a live mixed reality. The flag, also used in works in Second Life and Google Earth, is employed as a symbol of discovery or conquest of undiscovered places.
By viewing the work in Layar you have ether visited an existing ‘real’ location where a ‘virtual’ Sandwich Board and flag has been left, by the artist or another user, or put one at a new location for others to find.
The work can be viewed from any location (internet and GPS dependant). To view:
- Download Layar for IPhone 3GS or newer (iOS 5+), iPad 2 or newer (iOS 5+) or a device running Android 2.2+
- Launch the Layar app when it has finished installation and search for “Sandwich Board” (without the quotes).
- Once the Layar loads you will ether see a previously positioned Sandwich Board or a new one you have just placed.
Photos of the location you leave a Sandwich Board can be posted directly from Layar to the Flickr set online.
Above: Photos of Sandwich Boards at various locations placed by viewers of the work. View the full set of viewer photos on Flickr.
Above: Map of all Sandwich Boards to date placed by viewers at various locations.