Islamabad, October 19, 2017 – Visiting American neo-conceptual artist Richard Humann led a two-day creative workshop that concluded today for a group of 33 university students and faculty to explore how to conceptualize art using software development tools. Students from Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Iqra National University, and Hunerkada College of Arts gained familiarity with cutting-edge methods for transforming art into augmented reality pieces that provide a unique experience to the viewer.
“Through this program, we are supporting Pakistani arts and culture,” said Amna Khan, Director of Hunerkada College. U.S. Embassy Islamabad sponsored the event in partnership with Hunerkada College of Arts, which hosted the workshop, and Hamayoon Khan Development Foundation.
A New York-based artist who works with sculptures and video installations, Humann will be exhibiting one of his artworks at the Karachi Biennale from October 22 to November 5.
Throughout the workshop, Humann demonstrated how students could turn their sketches and drawings into augmented reality pieces that can be viewed in specific locations through smartphone apps, and students had the opportunity to try out the software for themselves. To explain more about augmented reality artistic pieces, Humann demonstrated his art installation at OPEN 20 in Venice, Italy, where he exhibited constellations of stars with surreal background images that could be viewed in the Venice nighttime sky with an iPad or smartphone.
The workshop provided the venue for students to develop their artistic ideas in a collaborative, supportive environment. “Witnessing the creativity among the students here has been amazing,” said Ajay Rao, Consulate Peshawar Public Affairs Officer. “Educational and cultural programs like these are integral to the U.S.-Pakistan relationship.”
