ELIXR playtests augmented reality at Chinatown mural

A not-for-profit whose goal is to make Canada a global powerhouse in extended reality wants you to interact with a striking mural in Edmonton's historic south Chinatown.

ELIXR Simulations is testing an augmented-reality experience on Aug. 29 with the Azure Dragon of the East by Branden Cha, who is best known as Busyrawk. The mural is on the side of the Mah Society of Edmonton at 9643 101A Avenue NW.

Participants will be invited to use their smartphones to explore video and artwork digitally overlaid on the mural by scanning a QR code — no app required.

"The mural transforms, where you actually see the dragon come to life and then moving throughout the space," said Andrea Urbina, CEO of ELIXR. "Being able to enhance and build off of Branden's vision and able to create completely new artwork that works with what exists there (was key)."

In an effort to bring public art, technology, and community together, ELIXR called for proposals after receiving $140,000 from the province's Northern and Regional Economic Development Program to advance its tech and train young talent. Two students — Avi from Red Deer Polytechnic and Flor from Pixel Blue College — built the XR as part of ELIXR's protégé program. (Applications for the next intake of that funding stream opened on Aug. 24.)

"This was an opportunity for us to bring emerging talent to gain hands-on experience developing those concepts," Urbina told Taproot.

Part of the students' professional development includes incorporating what they learn from the Aug. 29 playtest. "We need to put the experience in front of real users, so that we can actually gather more feedback around it," Urbina said.

Chinatown advocate Shawn Tse made the pitch for this project because he wants more people to explore the culture Chinatown has to offer, at a time when the area's revitalization is not necessarily perceived by the public.

"How can immersive technology bring more foot traffic to Chinatown?" he wondered. Honouring and celebrating Chinatown as a cultural space is important, he said, but "down to brass tacks, (we need to get) people to go to Chinatown, to play in Chinatown, and to eat in Chinatown."

Tse had an existing relationship with Cha, having booked Jordon Hon's documentary about the mural for last year's FascinAsian Film Festival. Tse suspected Cha would be open to a multimedia extension of his art.

The XR experience also includes a video from Cha, explaining the cultural significance of the dragon and his vision for the work, which is inspired by themes of inclusion and shared responsibilities.

"(The mural) kind of holds as the gateway for people to get connected to this message," Cha told Taproot earlier this year. "I wanted to extend muralism to be more than just urban vibrancy and visual beautification."

The event is timed to coincide with the next iteration of Chinatown After Dark, organized by YEG Chinatown Re:VITA at 10640 98 Street NW. Guests who come to the playtest early will receive vouchers for food and/or drink at the later event.

Looking ahead, Cha is getting ready to paint his next mural, The Black Tortoise of the North in the coming weeks. And ELIXR and Tse want to add more murals to their XR roster.

Meanwhile, the new Chinatown Gate is getting closer to completion. Construction is expected to close 97 Street for the next two weeks, with nighttime closures to follow until Sept. 21.