Augmented Reality Exhibition 'Layers of Place: Austin' Presents Historical Narratives Through Digital Portals

An augmented reality exhibition titled 'Layers of Place: Austin' features six digital installations accessible via the Hoverlay mobile application across downtown Austin. The project premiered during the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival's XR Experience segment. Developed through the MIT Open Documentary Lab's Augmented Reality and Public Space working group, the works originated a year earlier as 'Layers of Place: MIT' on the Cambridge campus before being adapted for Austin locations. Local producer Courtney B. Cook collaborated with artists to contextualize pieces for the Texas city. The installations explore various themes through interactive AR experiences: 'Humble Monuments' incorporates 3D-scanned plants from Festival Beach Food Forest; 'Paper Boat' visualizes climate change impacts through a game predicting sea-level rise; 'Moving Memory' interacts with existing sculptures near Austin Central Library; 'Oryza: Healing Ground' presents stories of Black land stewardship through a digital quilt; 'Open Access Memorial' honors internet activist Aaron Swartz; and 'The Founders Pillars' overlays the Texas State Capitol with textiles representing enslaved builders. Producer Akmyrat Tuyliyev emphasized the project's ethical considerations and historical depth, while artist Tamara Shogaolu highlighted its community accessibility. The installations remain publicly available through the Hoverlay app after SXSW, with locations mapped online.