Liminal spaces: Floating between the digital and the physical

• Author:
• Author name

  Quantumrun Foresight
• February 2, 2023

Extended reality (XR) melds physical and digital realms, transforming real-world spaces into interactive environments. These experiential spaces use sensors, smart cameras, real-time mapping, augmented reality (AR), and other technologies so that digital elements can respond to people in motion.

Liminal spaces context

Liminal spaces are described as transitional or threshold areas where the physical and virtual interact. These spaces are commonly found in new art forms that take advantage of QR codes and smartphone cameras. For example, Artechouse produces interactive installations that change with the exhibit on display. Their locations are in Miami Beach, New York City, and Washington, D.C. And in a spring 2022 exhibition, an artist used generative algorithms to create audiovisual paintings (such as swirling colors and sound) while visitors watched and listened. 

Another example is New York-based The High Line, a former railroad turned public park, which collaborated with The Shed, a cultural center in Manhattan. The partnership produced an exhibition that can only be seen through the lens of AR. Anyone can download the app created by a digital-art developer based in London, Acute Art, to explore these exhibits. 

The app reads a QR code displayed at specific locations and reveals digital art in its place. By looking at the screen, visitors will see the background as it is, with other people walking around. However, the code also activates a digital sculpture to appear on the screen. Augmented reality technology projects images that change as viewers move, like a three-dimensional object.

Disruptive impact

Liminal space art is giving birth to a novel way of discovering and appreciating art. Interactive art has been around since the 1960s, but that era was defined by using clever positioning and reflective materials to create illusions. The new generation of immersive art uses technology and ever-advancing artificial intelligence (AI) to layer the digital on top of the physical, allowing people to use all their senses to explore.

For example, TeamLab’s use of digital media expands people's perceptions of what art is. Its immersive experiences eliminate the boundaries that traditionally exist around viewing artwork. This feature allows for a more fluid and open experience where viewers can engage with the work on multiple levels. The space focuses on engaging all senses when viewing art, which is best done through large-scale interactive exhibits that span the entire room.

A significant factor driving the growth in immersive art is the increasing interest in digital art during the COVID-19 pandemic. With more people staying indoors, many museums, galleries, and other art spaces had to get creative with showcasing their exhibitions. Many museums had taken significant financial losses and needed new ways to attract attention from a wider range of people.

However, the main ingredient that makes liminal art experiences interesting is also its limitation. Most XR experiences still rely on smartphones with advanced camera capabilities. This primary requirement eliminates certain populations that don't have access to these devices. However, optimizing XR to smartphone technology is still better than relying on expensive VR headsets that may exclude more people.

Implications of liminal spaces

Wider implications of liminal spaces may include: 

• More arthouses using XR tech to superimpose digital exhibitions on top of physical artwork and sculptures.
• Major museums employing XR to highlight specific artwork or artists, creating virtual environments where people can interact with the art’s historical period.
• Increasing opportunities for digital artists to partner with museums and brands for creative exhibits.
• More people who are willing to pay a premium for highly interactive exhibits that they can record for social media.
• Art hunts that involve people traveling around the neighborhood to look for QR “easter eggs,” creating a more dynamic form of tourism.

Questions to comment on

• What are some of the interactive art exhibits you’ve experienced recently?
• How else do you think liminal spaces are going to evolve beyond art?