Abstract
Augmented reality (AR) involves a transformation of “real-world” experiences via computer-generated imagery, sound, and text. AR has been considered by geographers for its implications for place experience and production. Yet, more geographical attention can be directed towards exploring AR’s geographical qualities and transformative potential, particularly in the age of the Anthropocene. This article advances knowledge at the intersection of digital geohumanities (Bauch 2017) and creative geographies (Hawkins 2020; Barbarossa et al. 2023) by discussing SOW: an AR public art intervention into the industrial meat complex. SOW is a giant female pig that lives in the digital realm and appears in AR through one’s smartphone in six locations linked to industrial pork production across England. Taking the form of a digital sculpture, SOW is an experiment on the edges of art and activism; like the industrial meat industry, she is only visible if one chooses to look. This article thus innovatively explores the connections between digital art, site, and power and critically reflects on the transformative potential of AR for geographers.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-20 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | Geohumanities |
| Early online date | 22 Apr 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 22 Apr 2025 |
Keywords
- augmented reality
- digital art
- food system
- industrial farming
- public art