In Hong Kong, French artist Nicholas Buffe takes you on an AR journey across the zodiac
Using augmented reality to draw visitors into an adventure to restore celestial balance, contemporary artist Buffe blends pop culture with classical stylings to create an immersive multimedia experience at the K11 Mall
The towering 4.5-metre rocket-lantern sculpture standing in the K11 Mall in Tsim Sha Tsui perfectly reflects the signature style of its creator, French contemporary artist Nicolas Buffe: a mix of old and new, this time blending tokusatsu (live-action Japanese film/TV heavy on special effects)-style sculpture with traditional Japanese lantern making.
“This work tells a story by incorporating popular and traditional Japanese myths mixed with the 13 Western zodiac signs,” Buffe says, referring to the astrological system that includes Ophiuchus, “the serpent bearer”.
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The story involved is a sci-fi adventure about the disappearance of the Capricorn constellation from the night sky, a situation which puts this year’s Christmas in jeopardy. Like all good adventure tales, there is a hero involved.
“Urania, the muse of astrology and astronomy, has to criss-cross the universe in this rocket lantern and use her resources to find Capricorn, restoring celestial balance and saving Christmas,” Buffe explains.
To quite literally get a better picture of the how the story unfolds, Buffe uses augmented reality (AR) to add an interactive element. With the help of a mobile app, visitors can view 13 zodiac-themed images designed by Buffe in AR – his way of igniting their imaginations.
