Augmented Reality Activism - Augmented Reality Art - page 18

Fig. 1.14 Nathan Shafer,
Exit Glacier Terminus Project
(2012) Screenshot (Images
reproduced courtesy of the
artist)

state of high activity to low activity. As it goes into the low activity cycle it emits
less highly-energized particles into space. When the energized atoms collide with
Earth's atmosphere they create the aurora borealis effect. In the low cycle the aurora
borealis moves north and is seen much less frequently (Bodzash 2010 ). Even when
the sun was in a period of high activity and the aurora borealis is not visible in
Anchorage because of man made light pollution. This light pollution removes the
aurora borealis from cities across the world.
Another of Shafer's works addresses global warming and environmental degra-
dation (see Fig. 1.14 ). This was seen in Alaska's rapidly receding glaciers. Shafer
used AR to show on site, how the glacier had receded over recent years. Viewers
have to travel to the site of the glaciers armed with a smartphone or tablet. Viewers
can then see glaciers as they were years ago. The app allowed viewers to roll back
time year by year to see global warming's devastating effect on what's left of the
glaciers. Shafer's work shocks the viewer when confronted with the extent of the
devastation. The amount of the damage brings on a sense of urgency bordering on
hopelessness when the viewer is faced with Shafer's documentation.
Art activist John Craig Freeman's work “DéchARge de Rebut Toxique”12 (see
Fig. 3.6 ) creates a sprawling radioactive toxic waste dump across the city of Paris,
France. The work calls into question the world's reliance on nuclear energy and the
consequences tied to long term use.

1.13 Augmented Reality Monuments

Author activist Gregory Ulmer writes of the need for modern monuments to recon-
cile the tragedies and horrors of today. Because we as a society experience these as a
networked collective there is a need for a modern day monument which reflects this.
In his topic Electronic Monuments Ulmer argues that this monument is needed for
the 911 World Trade Center Disaster. Artist activist Brian August created this very