Innovative Street artists Murwalls, uses augmented reality to create interactive street art
The role of street art has changed over the years¹. Towns and cities are increasingly recognising its potential as a cost effective contributor to ‘place’ and community². At the convergence of this modern art form with innovative augmented technology, you will find Arise Members: MurWalls.
Marc Silver, founder and CEO of MurWalls, had a vison of bringing to life their art work. Inspired by an artist from El Salvador who used augmented reality to move his street art, Marc set about designing and creating artwork.
He says: “I had this idea in my head where I wanted to create an augmented reality mural. I love the street art, I love the murals, but we’re always trying to make things bigger and better. It’s a great challenge to have, although very stressful as once you have completed one, then how do you go on to make it better?”
MurWalls approached Robbie Fowler, a football legend, to commission a mural for him. An ex Liverpool player, Fowler was nicknamed ‘God’ by club supporters. MurWalls took this theme, and intertwined it carefully into the art work, referencing a stain glass window to suggest a church setting.
The next step was bringing this to life, while still in the style of street art. They animated Fowler’s distinctive nose strip, a spinning halo and a football.
He says:
“There is a big QR code on the wall next to the mural. You use your camera to scan it, and you stand back in front of it, and it brings it to life. You can see the elements of the street art move through your phone. We’ve made prints of this too. We’ve created a lot of murals around Anfield, but the feeling is that this is the best one. The image is so different, in the sense that it’s not just a portrait, it’s interactive. People are realising it’s a bit special.”
MurWalls also contributed to International Women’s Day, working with the Football Association who approached them to design and created a first in a series of street art. The first was of Lotte Wubben-Moy, football player for Arsenal and England. MurWalls created the mural on her school wall, celebrating her moving through the ranks of football, giving a sense of pride and community to the local area. MurWalls memorialise her, celebrating the legacy of England’s Lionesses and drawing attention to the inequality surrounding women’s football.
MurWalls also worked more locally with the NHS during lockdown. Wanting to keep the staff motivated and happy, the Princess Alexandra Hospital agreed to boost a sense of wellbeing to their staff with a mural. They have also worked with local schools, via the local council, going into schools and talking to the children in terms of what they’d like to see.
Marc says;
“We work very closely with the local community here in Harlow. We worked with a programme put on by Harlow council and now there is a school in old Harlow with ‘Matilda’ artwork on it.
Working with the community is really important to us.”
To see more of MurWalls’ art, take a look at their website.
Jack Ellum, Arise Innovation Hubs Manager says “MurWalls’ focus on building community wealth and wellbeing through immersive storytelling and the celebration of local heroes makes them a wonderful addition to our ecosystem. Their works receive critical acclaim and national recognition which aligns with ARU’s community values and storytelling research.”