August 2024 | The vibrant city of Auckland warmly welcomed acclaimed French artist Julie Stephen Chheng for a creative residency that bridged the gap between the tangible and the digital. During her visit, Chheng shared her creative insights and showcased her remarkable work, including the captivating project Uramado AR: Tanukis Awake.
The Magic of Uramado AR: Auckland Welcomes Julie Stephen Chheng
The Experience: Uramado AR
Julie enchanted audiences with an augmented reality treasure hunt that transformed the urban landscape into a digital folklore forest.
- The Hunt: Participants explored the city, using their smartphones to discover digital stickers hidden in plain sight.
- The Tanukis: When scanned, these stickers brought mystical forest spirits known as Tanukis to life. In Japanese mythology, Tanukis are mischievous shape-shifters; here, they served as guides to help participants wake up the spirits of the city.
- A Personalized Finale: The adventure was not just a visual display; it was a journey of self-discovery. Based on the Tanukis found, the AR experience culminated in participants receiving their own colorful AR masks, uniquely connecting them to this magical, virtual world.
Artistic Philosophy: Playful Storytelling
Julie’s art revolves around playful and combinatorial storytelling. By blending paper-cutting and traditional craft with high-tech software, she invites viewers to immerse themselves in universes that are simultaneously colorful, tangible, and virtual. Her work challenges the idea that technology is cold or isolating, instead using it to foster curiosity and public engagement.
A Global Legacy
Auckland is the latest stop in a prestigious journey for the Uramado project. Julie’s portfolio includes high-profile collaborations that demonstrate the versatility of her vision:
- Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (2017): A landmark presentation of the Uramado spirits in Paris.
- Hermès Tokyo: Julie crafted 18 intricate window displays for the luxury brand, showcasing her ability to blend high fashion with whimsical narrative.
- Villa Kujoyama: Her residency at this prestigious institution in Kyoto deeply influenced the mythological roots of the Tanuki project.
Legacy in Auckland
Her visit left an indelible mark on Auckland’s creative landscape, bridging French and Pacific perspectives through the lens of modern technology. Attendees departed not just with a digital mask, but with a renewed appreciation for how imaginative storytelling can
