Pink Dot SG's LGBTQ+ art exhibition to include immersive AR filter

Pink Dot's first LGBTQ+ art exhibition "Words of Change" will feature an immersive AR filter to build greater interaction with the inspirational artworks. The filter is done together with VICE Media's creative agency Virtue, and Lasalle College of the Arts undergraduate, Leah Zhao. Visitors to the exhibited pieces will be encouraged to create their own rendition of the pieces with interactive filters to carry on the conversation across social media platforms.

Pink Dot and Virtue first announced their collaboration in June this year to turn messages of support into art pieces and drive conversations around LGBTQ+ issues well beyond Pride month. Through "Words of Change", artists are invited to transform heartfelt messages of hope written by attendees of Singapore’s annual Pink Dot event for LGBTQ+ equality, into art pieces. Partnering with local auction house, HotLotz, the art will be auctioned at the end of the exhibition with proceeds going back to the artists and LGBTQ+ community.

Words of Change, which will launch on 1 September, follows a landmark decision by the Singapore government earlier this week to repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code with criminalises sex between men. Nonetheless, the Ministry of Communications and Information said policies on media content will remain, with LGBT media content, in particular, continuing to warrant higher age ratings. The exhibition will run until 30 September across 30 participating locations nationwide.

Clement Tan, Pink Dot SG spokesperson said: "While the government’s announcement that it intends to repeal Section 377A is certainly a step in the right direction, many barriers to equality still exist.”

He added that while there has now been a positive move towards equality and inclusion, the road to true equality is a long one, which is why Words of Change is as important as ever. "We're proud to shine a spotlight on some of these powerful messages, and to let them ring loud beyond the confines of Hong Lim Park," he said.

Meanwhile, Virtue APAC's senior account manager, Isabel Ong, explained that the artists and illustrators who joined the project have created inspirational, thought-provoking pieces. "Our AR filters mean greater accessibility and enhanced viewing experience for Singaporeans and continue to focus attention on this important issue and move it beyond tokenism," she said.

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