Downtown KL is being transformed with its the city’s 1st AR fest, here’s how to experience it

Since August 30, Downtown KL has been transformed with the city’s first ever Augmented Reality Festival, also known as AR Fest KL, lasting until November 30, 2024.

Over these three months, there will be city-wide activations featuring 30 interactive AR works across four unique programmes.

The event was curated by XR-focused studio Experiential Design Team (EDT) and co-organised by Studio Behind 90 and Korea-based startup Evertreasure.

AR FEST KL is also supported by strategic partners including Think City, DBKL, National Art Gallery (NAG), IMMERSE KL by MDEC, Kwai Chai Hong, and GMBB, among others.

Here’s what you can expect from the three-month fest.

ARt galore

How these AR programmes work, essentially, is through Instagram AR filters. You can visit the AR Fest KL website and browse through the various locations on the map. After selecting the appropriate pin on the map, you can access the link to the corresponding AR.

Clicking on the Launch AR button will immediately open up the filter on Instagram.

Alternatively, there also appears to be various QR codes physically present at the various locations involved in this fest that you can scan to immediately open up the Instagram filter, too.

1. StreetARt

Street art comes to life with this programme, which involves a compilation of street art that are activated by AR.

Through an open call, artists were invited to collaborate with six street art artists who have painted their murals in various locations around KL. Specifically, these artists are Kenji x Quiccs, Haris Rashid, Nestwo, Cloak Work, SnakeTwo, and Sliz.

These artists have “activated” the mural sites with AR, adding a new dimension of interactivity, animation, and engagement to the existing artworks.

Locations:

2. ARca

ARca is located at Malaysia’s very own Shibuya Crossing—the Bukit Bintang Crossing.

The crosswalk here has been transformed to feature digital sculptures, acting as a canvas for “plane-tracked” and “sky-segmented” AR technology.

Location: The Starhill, Bukit Bintang  

3. ARtwork

As the name suggests, ARtwork involves turning existing art into AR-enabled pieces of work.

ARtwork has been created in partnership with the National Art Gallery (Balai Seni Negara) in Kuala Lumpur, an institution for modern and contemporary art.

According to the AR Fest KL website, ARtwork has transformed an oil on canvas piece titled Enrique de Malacca by artist Ahmad Fuad Osman, introducing dynamic elements such as moving clouds, animated background action, and subtle changes in Enrique’s expression.

The objective with this is to deepen the viewer’s connection to the historical narrative, making the scene more vivid and engaging.

Location: National Art Gallery

4. CheritAR

Last but not least, CheritAR features AI-powered avatar historians that will share animated stories at various sites, merging tradition with interactive tech.

CheritAR is presented by EDT and Think City and aims to redefines historical exploration with AR.

Locations:

Empowering local Kreatifs

AR Fest is held in conjunction with the inaugural Kreatif KL Festival, which is presented by DBKL and Think City, with support from the Ministry of Finance.

Kreatif KL Festival, also a three-month-long festival, promises over 100 vibrant events, of which AR Fest KL is one.

Aside from AR Fest KL, Kreatif KL Festival also features other exhibitions, public art installations, fashion, performances, and culinary experiences, all set against the backdrop of the city’s heritage. You can learn more about the festival here.

For the next three months, together with AR Fest KL, Kreatif KL Festival is set to uplift the city’s creative talents while promoting and supporting vibrant activities in Downtown KL.

Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), shared that not only does the festival celebrate Kuala Lumpur’s rich cultural heritage, it also aligns with the Malaysia MADANI Economic Framework’s goals of inclusive and sustainable development.

“Enhancing Downtown KL into a thriving creative and cultural hub is part of our broader strategy to drive economic growth and elevate the liveability of our cities,” she said.

This will go towards the government’s commitment to positioning Kuala Lumpur as a global creative centre, reflecting their aim to transform public spaces into dynamic places, fostering innovation, and expanding creative infrastructure.

In short, making Kuala Lumpur a key destination for both creative talents and businesses.

Featured Image Credit: AR Fest KL