2024 | 04. November
The ARTour goes international and gets an artistic upgrade
Over the past two years, ARTour has drawn nearly 30,000 visitors. Ahead of Art Basel, we had the privilege of expanding existing artworks and even adding new ones — yet another reason to experience it! Additionally, Basel Tourism brought ARTour to the Affordable Art Fair in Amsterdam, one of the world’s largest and most successful art fairs.
In the summer of 2022, in collaboration with Basel Tourism and the House of Electronic Arts, we launched ARTour as part of Roche’s 125th anniversary celebrations. This digital art exhibition, featuring augmented reality artworks displayed throughout the city of Basel, has already attracted around 30,000 users, making it a resounding success.
For Art Basel in June 2024, we expanded ARTour with an additional artwork and exciting add-ons. A new piece by Claudia Hart, a pioneer in the field of Extended Reality, enriches the ARTour with an intervention at the iconic Tinguely Fountain. This stunning artwork brings six interactive statues to life, adding six virtual caryatids to the lively setting of the machine sculptures — a creative homage to the female embodiment of columns in Greek architecture. Visitors can position the statues in their own compositions, allowing each person to create a unique, personalized experience.
Claudia Hart, Six Figures
In addition to Claudia Hart's captivating new artwork, two existing pieces were enhanced with intriguing add-ons, making ARTour even more immersive and interactive. The artwork «The Cycle of Life» by Andy Picci now shines with an artistic extension called «Souvenir». This innovative addition allows visitors to create a personal and unique keepsake on-site, which they can later print at Basel Tourism's Tourist Information.
Andy Picci, Souvenir
The artwork «be one of us» — a floating, dancing mushroom cluster — has also received a digital upgrade! Basel-based artist duo Studer/van den Berg surprises visitors with a special giveaway. After viewing the artwork, every art lover receives their very own dancing mushroom cluster as a gift. The best part? This enchanting miniature can be placed and admired anytime, anywhere.
Studer & van den Berg, be one of us
Finally, from October 9–13, 2024, ARTour made its international debut at the Affordable Art Fair in Amsterdam. Basel Tourism showcased ARTour as an innovative and accessible art concept. For this purpose, we developed an adapted version of the app, which enabled the experience of Erika Martins’ «Omnipulse» artwork outside of Basel, bringing ARTour closer to the fair’s attendees.
Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam
Discover the fascinating intersection of art and technology! ARTour remains free to experience in Basel. For more information about the project, visit here and access the tour at www.basel.com/en/artour.
