19 July, 2024
On Tuesday, 6 August DokuFest in partnership with CZKD – Center for Cultural Decontamination, Library Hamdija Kreševljaković and Un-War Space Lab will launch ARchipelago, an innovative digital art and research project that brings history to life through cutting-edge technology. This unique platform combines historical documents from the wars and post-war periods of the former Yugoslavia, transforming them into an engaging augmented reality (AR) experience.
The ARchipelago is a site-specific archival platform founded by Armina Pilav and Clarissa Thieme in collaboration with Kaya Behkalam and Farhan Khalid (The Augmented Archive), that will launch in four key cities: Sarajevo, Prizren, Mostar, and Belgrade. By using a smartphone, users can access a vast collection of war and post-war documents, including photos, videos, and audio recordings, all carefully curated and presented through an AR app. This app allows users to interact with these documents in the exact locations where the events took place, creating a powerful and immersive experience.
The project draws from numerous archival initiatives that offer a multi-perspective view of the region's recent history. In Prizren, for example, The ARchipelago will feature materials from the Lumbardhi Public Archive - Naci & Nafis Lokvica Collection. This collection, which dates back to 1975, captures everyday life, cultural rituals, and artistic activities during the 1990s, as well as the dramatic events of the NATO intervention in 1999. Through these documents, users will gain a deeper understanding of Prizren’s social and cultural evolution.
Thirty years after the breakup of Yugoslavia, there is still much to learn and understand about this tumultuous period. The ARchipelago provides a platform for exploring these complex histories in a way that is both accessible and engaging. By leveraging AR technology, the project offers a hands-on, participatory approach to archival practice, allowing users to see and hear history from multiple perspectives and in the very places where it unfolded.
The ARchipelago goes beyond traditional archives by using GPS-tagged audiovisual testimonies. This innovative approach not only makes historical documents more accessible but also recontextualizes them within their original spatial settings. As users navigate through the cities, the app overlays historical images and videos onto the present-day landscape, creating a multidirectional and layered narrative of history.
The ARchipelago will officially launch with a series of events such as guided walks and a workshop for the students of the Summer School. These activities are designed to introduce participants to the platform and provide hands-on experience with the AR app.
ARchipelago Partners are
CZKD – Center for Cultural Decontamination, Belgrade/Serbia
Dokufest Prizren and the Naci & Nafis Lokvica Collection, Kosovo
Library Hamdija Kreševljaković, Sarajevo / Bosnia and Herzegovina
Un-War Space Lab, Brač Island / Croatia and Mostar / Bosnia and Herzegovina
ARchipelago is funded by the EUNIC European Spaces of Cultures program 2023 and the Goethe-Institut’s Excellence Initiative 2023/24.
For more details on how you can participate in this exciting project and explore the intersections of history, technology, and public space with The ARchipelago click here.
