An augmented reality app is breathing new life into Australia’s largest outdoor art gallery, the Silo Art Trail, thanks to funding from the Victorian Government’s $2 million Regional Events and Innovation Fund.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula has visited the Sheep Hills silo along the trail to test the app which includes a voiceover from Wergaia elder Uncle Ron Marks, one of the local people depicted in the work by artist Adnate.
“We’re bringing this magnificent silo art to life through an augmented reality experience that allows visitors to take a deeper look into the artworks and the stories they tell,” said Minister Pakula. “From Patchewollock to Brim, Sheep Hills and beyond, the Silo Art Trail is attracting thousands of tourists from around Victoria and further afield, and that is great news for the Wimmera and Mallee economies.”
Providing an insight into the spirit of the Wimmera Mallee – the trail stretches over 200 kilometres from Rupanyup in the south to Patchewollock in the north and celebrates the region’s people through a series of large-scale murals painted on grain silos.
Conceived in 2016, the project saw a team of renowned artists from Australia and around the world visit the region, meet with locals and transform each grain silo into an epic work of art, each one telling a unique story.
“Regional Victoria is a hub of creativity – we’re proud to support these iconic installations that show that creativity off and tell the story of our Wimmera and Mallee regions,” said Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley.
The augmented reality content is provided for each silo and can only be accessed by opening the app and scanning a marker on-site. Once activated, a portal appears through which users can access key information about the artwork and region, including voiceovers from key local figures.
Image: Sheep Hills Silo Art by Adnate – courtesy of Visit Victoria