Layers of Place is an augmented reality (AR) exhibition that reimagines MIT’s campus as a tapestry of dialogues across time and space, where physical sites and digital spaces reveal hidden histories, stories, and perspectives.
Created by the MIT Open Documentary Lab’s AR and Public Space Artist Collective, this multiyear inquiry explores how digital augmentation can reshape our spatial perceptions, our understanding of place, and our shared histories. This curated collection of location-based AR experiences encourages exploration of often unseen dimensions of MIT’s public spaces—uncovering layers of history from forgotten pasts to overlooked presents and speculative futures. Using Hoverlay, a location-based mobile AR app, MIT’s landscape is transformed into a space for urban annotation—an evolving site of discovery,
reflection, and interaction that bridges personal, communal, historical and a multiplicity of experiences.
Collective Journeys
Visitors can begin their journey at any location, moving freely across MIT’s iconic sites, where geo-located markers and digital overlays activate each experience. Every project is a distinct portal, guiding participants through unique concepts and stories. Yet the true essence of the exhibition emerges from the culmination of these collective journeys. The layers of encounters yield a multifaceted, prismatic viewpoint—capturing diverse perspectives and narratives, and revealing nuanced dimensions of place. Through this collective exploration, the campus transforms into a multidimensional, pluralistic inquiry, delving into themes such as racial justice, historical memory, monuments, environmental stewardship, and the impact of technology on civic life. The importance of plurality is central, presenting eight perspectives on different concepts and viewpoints. In a world that is increasingly polarized and lacking in nuanced perspectives, Layers of Place emphasizes the communal experience. By expanding “public space” to include both the tangible campus environment and the virtual layers accessible through AR, we create a new form of communal experience.
EXHIBITIONS
MIT Artfinity Festival: Layers of Place
Feb 28 – Mar 16, 2025 (Pieces will continue to be showcased with OpenDocLab after)
Open Documentary Lab: Layers of Place
Mar 17 – Ongoing
OUR METHODOLOGIES
FUNDERS
This work would not be possible without the support of Agog: The Immersive Media Institute, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Just Films, Ford Foundation and MIT Arts Festival.