The Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the world’s most prestigious repositories of art history, is embarking on a groundbreaking digital endeavor by launching a new augmented reality app named Replica. Developed in collaboration with Version and accessible through the gaming platform Roblox, the app brings the Met’s timeless masterpieces into the digital realm, providing art enthusiasts with an interactive and immersive experience like never before.
Replica, which is available for free on iOS and Android devices, allows users to engage with a virtual version of the museum’s extensive collection. Through the app, visitors can scan and interact with iconic works such as Vincent van Gogh’s vibrant Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat (1887) and transport them to the gaming platform Roblox. Additionally, the app features digital recreations of the Met’s Fifth Avenue facade and Great Hall, including a meticulous pixel-perfect copy of Kent Monkman’s captivating diptych mistikôsiwak: Wooden Boat People (2019).
The museum’s foray into augmented reality comes after its brief collaboration with Verizon in 2021, which resulted in the Met Unframed initiative. This venture offered art-lovers the opportunity to explore a dozen digitally rendered galleries from the comfort of their homes. Now, with the rollout of Replica, the Met aims to revolutionize the way visitors engage with art, transcending physical boundaries and providing a captivating, fun, and unique journey through its hallowed halls.
Max Hollein, the Director and Chief Executive of the Met, expressed his excitement about the potential of the Replica app. In a statement, he praised the initiative for transforming the museum’s educational offerings and creating playful connections with art in both physical and digital spaces. Hollein’s enthusiasm underscores the Met’s commitment to embracing innovative technological approaches to inspire and educate its diverse audience.
The advent of augmented reality in the cultural sphere is part of a broader effort by museums worldwide to entice younger generations and tech-savvy audiences. While virtual reality immerses users in entirely digital environments, augmented reality overlays digital images onto the physical space before them, creating an interactive and enriched experience.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s move to integrate augmented reality into its offerings aligns with a growing trend in the art world. In 2022, the National Gallery in London introduced a unique gaming experience that allowed users to curate their own art collections, empowering individuals to become virtual art curators.
As technology continues to evolve, cultural institutions like the Met are poised to embrace these digital transformations, blending the rich heritage of the past with the boundless possibilities of the digital age. With Replica, art enthusiasts, whether visiting in person or exploring virtually, can now engage with masterpieces like never before, transcending time and space to experience the magic of art in a whole new dimension.
