There are a pair of new public art pieces coming to Vancouver, and they’re set to transform the Cambie Street Bridge’s southern underpass. The Colombian artist Jessica Angel is behind the two installations, which combine traditional and technological elements to create a huge augmented reality experience. Yeah, it’s a lot to unpack, so let’s check it out!

voxel bridge
Photo via Jessica Angel/Vancouver Biennale

The main piece is called Voxel Bridge. Covering some 18,000 square feet, the massive installation uses a mixture of traditional vinyl and augmented reality elements to immerse visitors in the space. As for the art itself, Angel has gone for a technological look, using bold colours and geometric elements. To us, it kinda looks like a cross between a black light bowling alley and the inside of a pinball machine. We’re fans.

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For the curious, a ‘voxel’ is like a pixel, but instead of it being a 2D point in a 2D space, it’s a 3D point in a 3D space. That’s actually relevant to the art, since viewers will see these voxels in action in a variety of ways. And, unlike most other augmented reality installations, these actually stay in place as you move around them, adding to the immersion while you’re there.

vortex
Photo via Jessica Angel/Vancouver Biennale

Meanwhile, a second piece from Angel, called Vortex, will be set up in the nearby Hinge Park. There’s a little less info on this one, but it’s described as a ‘secret entry’ for the other piece. Here, people will be able to virtually ‘jump in’ to the larger piece, but details are a little iffy there.

The pieces are set to be unveiled later this summer, and we can’t wait to check them out!