By Sol de Maria Rodriguez Martel
As Cincinnati Opera presents its highly anticipated production of Madame Butterfly, audiences will be treated to an extraordinary blend of art and technology. Alongside the captivating performances on stage, a beautiful sculpture with an augmented reality (AR) feature will grace the lobby of Music Hall, offering an immersive experience to all who interact with it. The artist behind it is John Tshuchiya, who collaborated with his brother, the sculptor Tom Tsuchiya, to develop this exciting fusion of virtuality and reality.
About John Tsuchiya
Hailing from Cincinnati, John Tsuchiya is an architectural designer who has lent his expertise to Elevar Design Group, one of the city's premier architectural firms. With a passion for art and technology, John developed the AR installation that will grace Music Hall from July 22 to 29.
The Sculpture
Within the lobby of Music Hall, patrons will encounter an exquisite piece of sculptural artwork crafted by Tom Tsuchiya. Drawing inspiration from the Japanese pictorial maxim "The three wise monkeys," the sculpture embodies the proverbial principle of "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." In Tom's rendition, the monkeys are intertwined, each labeled as "reduce," "reuse," and "recycle," symbolizing the significance of responsible resource utilization. The sculpture offers visitors a space to recycle their unwanted CDs and DVDs, and collected items will subsequently be distributed to local organizations, ensuring their proper reuse or recycling.
Augmented Reality Integration
Inspired by Cincinnati Opera’s new production of Madame Butterfly, which blends virtual and real-life elements, the Tsuchiyas decided to incorporate augmented reality into the sculpture. Using a QR code displayed on the sculpture's base, audiences will gain access to the AR experience.
AR art developed by John Tsuchiya, 2023.
Once they scan the code with their smartphones, audience members will be directed to a website where they can access the AR design by focusing their cameras on the designated markers positioned at each corner of the sculpture's base. This alignment ensures that the digital image appears precisely where the sculpture stands, allowing viewers to witness the sculpture's intricate details and vibrant colors through their mobile devices. The colors, featuring shades of blue, green, and orange, draw inspiration from the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, which actively promotes recycling practices within Japan.
The Inspiration and Process
Augmented reality has become increasingly common in the architectural industry, revolutionizing the design and construction process. Architects can now visualize finished structures within their intended environment with the help of technology. This is what inspired John Tsuchiya.
John has dedicated approximately one month to bringing this AR experience to life. Leveraging his brother's 3D scan of the initial sculpture, the team harnessed this data to create the AR function.
John expressed his excitement about the immersive experience that awaits Cincinnati Opera's audiences. Likewise, the Tsuchiyas’ creativity gives Cincinnati Opera a unique and valuable opportunity to connect with audiences in new and unexpected ways.
AR art developed by John Tsuchiya, 2023.