Impressive Augmented Reality Allows People To Enter The World of National Geographic.

In an impressive display of augmented reality (video further down in this post), people in a shopping mall in Hungary got a chance to pet a cheetah, play with velociraptors, stand within biting distance of a T-Rex, endure a thunderstorm and walk with an astronaut amongst other exciting experiences via technology from the UK's Appshaker.





Appshaker recently launched a unique way for people to interact with the amazing world of National Geographic Channel's content from around the globe.

Using the principles of augmented reality, people could immerse themselves in different scenes such as dolphins, leopards, the space landings, dinosaurs and more.



Thousands of people interacted with the National Geographic Channel brand in the process as it toured Hungary, with thousands more people sharing snapshots and video on Facebook as a result.




For more information on appshaker, please head to appshaker.co.uk and a huge thank you to Vertigo Digital whom they worked with to create the amazing 3D.

And What Remains is Art. Artist Alexandre Farto, aka Vhils, Scratches The Surface.

In a similar manner as Michelangelo's removing the excess from the block of marble allowing the figure to emerge, artist Alexandre Farto creates portraits by removing plaster, brick, wood and cement from surfaces.




Born in Portugal, Alexandre Farto aka Vhils, removes plaster, brick, wood and other wall surfaces in situ and what remains from the excavation, with the addition of a little paint in some instances, are evocative portraits. His work can be found on walls, buildings and other surfaces, turning what many term 'vandalism' into portraits for all to see.




Shown in this post are a selection of these types of works by Vhils from cities all over the world, such as Moscow, London, Portugal, Italy, Berlin and New York.














He has also applied the same technique indoors for other installations:




Alexandre Farto also works with many other materials to create several types of art. To see more of his work, visit his website.

images in this post courtesy of Vera Cortes, Lazarides, and the artist.

Yarn Bombing: Guerilla Knitters & Granny Graffiti Cover Cities With Crochet

above: Yarn Bomber Magda Sayeg gives a Paris statue a legwarmer

above: A Yarn Bombed homage to Banksy by Agata Olek, image courtesy of Olek

If you're not aware of the latest art movement, Yarn Bombing, just start looking around. Yarn Bombing is a cozier version of street graffiti. Sometimes referred to as Grandma Graffiti, it is the guerilla crocheting of buildings, bike racks, stairs, statues, trees, lampposts and more are covered with crochet or knitting by various artists.



A relatively new global phenomenon, this softer form of urban vandalism is appearing in every country around the globe and was recently celebrated on June 11th as International Yarn Bombing day.


above: Magda Sayeg of Knitta Please at work

above: Agato Olek yarn bombs places, things and created human figures with her knits, image courtesy of Olek

above: Jesse Hemmon of Ishknits yarnbombs the Rocky Stautue in Philadelphia

Just like urban street art has its heros (Bansky, Crash, Retna and more) so does Yarn Bombing. Artists/knitters like Jessie Hemmons of ishknits, Magda Sayeg of Knitta Please and artist Agata Olek, to name just a few.

Jessie Hemmon's yard bombed statue of Rocky outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art asks you to "go see the art":




The talented work of artist Magda Sayeg is more like public art installations than graffiti and can be found in Paris, New York and Indonesia, amongst other places.

Some work from Magda Sayek of Knitta Please (more later in the post):







From People to Public Pools to Statues, some of Agata Olek's work:

image courtesy of Olek

image courtesy of Olek

image courtesy of Olek

image courtesy of Olek

image courtesy of Olek

image courtesy of Olek

image courtesy of Olek

Yarn Bombed Transportation:

above: Jessie Hemmon's awesome Tank Blankie (courtesy of flickr)

above: knit car cozie (artist unknown)

above: Knit covered motorcycle by Kate Corbin




above: Magda Sayeg's amazing crochet-covered atv, bus, MINI, and Cosmico camper

above: Agata Olek's knit covered car

above: the El train yarnbombed by ishknits

above: Schwinn by Greeneyez2

above: knit covered bike in new York by Agata olek, image courtesy of Olek

Yarn bombed utility and lamp posts, bike racks, and other public elements:

above: yarn bombed bike racks by Graffiti Grannies

above: Yarn bombed bike racks by Maluca Yarnbombing

Some Yarn Bombed statues spotted on June 11th:

above: Yarn Bombed statue by Julie Burton Beckham

above photo courtesy of Dace Balode

above photo courtesy of Laurie Sims

above: a yarnbombed lion by Bournemouth & Poole Stitch n' Bitch, image courtesy of flickr

Yarn Bombed trees:



and a truly beautiful one spotted in Fitzroy VIC Australia (artist unknown)


The images in this post are courtesy from the various artists, the New York Times, ArtInfo Time magazine and Flickr

Yarn bombing links:

• Yarnbombing has a list and links to many yarnbombers.
•All About Yarn blog
• Knitta Please blog
• Yarnbombing Facebook group
• Graffiti Grannies on facebook
• Images from International Yarn Bombing day on flickr