Alex Hirtzel is an Artist, Bee Activist and Science Communicator. Her multimedia work plays between science and art, linking references from scientific research, with historical artworks to create art pieces that tell a narrative that references today.
Her most recent artworks use Augmented Reality to display the inner messages of each piece, inviting audiences to actively engage with the piece and explore the narrative behind them.
One of the artworks we have on show was created for the charity Birdlife International’s 100th anniversary and was exhibited at the V&A in London in September 2022. This large picture tells a story of recent conservation successes, as well as red list birds of concern.
The other piece explores wildflowers, many of which are used by butterflies and pollinators in particular.
To enjoy the AR gallery visitors can use their smartphones to scan a QR code which leads to a bespoke Instagram filter. By pointing your camera at the relevant painting with the filter open, users trigger a looped animation of bees and birds flying in and out of their screens and interacting with the painted plants. Users can explore each painting from multiple angles by moving their camera to discover new layers of information and different animated sections.
