Toronto 
Credit: Mohammed Kazem
An incredible new global exhibition is coming to the Royal Botanical Gardens this Fall.
Twelve public gardens in six countries will simultaneously showcase delightful contemporary artworks by thirteen artists with augmented reality (AR) technology.
The exhibition, Seeing the Invisible, is developed in collaboration with botanical gardens around the world and features new works by more than a dozen international artists including Ai Weiwei, Refik Anadol, El Anatsui, Mohammed Kazem, Sigalit Landau, Sarah Meyohas, Pamela Rosenkranz, and Timur Si-Qin—including several artists’ firsts works in AR.
Though the works depicted at the gardens around the world will be the same, visitors will have a different experience at each garden as the artwork gels into the unique surroundings and context of the garden while inviting viewers to contemplate contemporary ideas relating to the site and non-site, physical and digital realms.
Mel O’Callaghan Pneuma , 2021, Royal Botanical Gardens, Ontario, Canada. Courtesy of the artist, Galerie Allen, Paris, Kronenberg Mais Wright, Sydney and Belo – Galsterer, Lisbon
When you visit Hendrie Park of Royal Botanical Gardens, you will encounter 13 unique and interactive artworks. You can interact with the artwork by taking photos and virtually walking through larger-than-life, sound-enhanced agile artwork.
The beauty of this exhibition is that the digitally enhanced experience inside the botanical garden keeps the carbon footprint to the minimum while addressing and exploring themes pertaining to nature, environment, and sustainability.
Daito Manabe – Morphecore Prototype AR, 2021
To experience the exhibition which can only be seen in-person at the gardens, you will need to download the augmented reality app – Seeing the Invisible app – designed especially for the exhibition.
In addition to the exhibition, during the Fall season, you can also join for tours and educational programming and visit Dan Lawrie International Sculpture Collection that features a stunning collection of 15 inspiring works of art from around the world.
You can also see hundreds of jack-o-lanterns at the Rock Garden in Hamilton in October.
Seeing the Invisible
Mel O_Callaghan – Pneuma, 2021
What: The most ambitious and expansive exhibition to date of contemporary artworks created with augmented reality (AR) technology, Seeing the Invisible will premiere at RBG as one of 12 participating gardens across six countries and the only location in Canada.
Engage with Seeing the Invisible through an app downloadable to their smartphone or tablet and encounter 13 unique and interactive artworks dotting the Hendrie Park landscape.
When:
Thursdays to Sundays, September 23 to November 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Timeslots: 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m.
Where: Hendrie Park, 680 Plains Rd W, Burlington, ON L7T 4H4
How much:
Adult: $24.50 (+ Service Fee)
Senior: $21.50 (+ Service Fee)
Youth/Student: $21.50 (+ Service Fee)
Child age 4 to 12: $16.50 (+ Service Fee)
Child under 4: FREE (registration still required)
