Snapchat is furthering its efforts to merge traditional art with augmented reality through a new initiative in collaboration with The Lincoln Center. This partnership leverages Snap's AR technology to animate the Center's latest exhibition.

Titled "Ghost Variations," the new exhibition invites visitors to download the Snap app to engage with augmented reality activations related to the displayed artworks.

Developed by AR creator Alexis Zerafa and digital artist and sculptor Sophie Kahn, this project “visualizes mental health and sound through a Snapchat augmented reality Lens,” which will be available in the app until August 10th.

According to Snap:

“The focus of Ghost Variations is 19th-century composer Robert Schumann, who, during the final years of his life in a psychiatric asylum, turned to the music of J.S. Bach as he grappled with his declining mental health. The exhibition features larger-than-life Snapchat augmented reality sculptures of Schumann, Bach, and various contemporary figures. Kahn submerged Schumann’s music underwater, recorded the waveforms, and mapped them onto the monumental heads, creating a visual representation of how we experience music.”

This initiative represents another effort by Snap to blend traditional art experiences with contemporary technology. The platform has already undertaken several significant projects aimed at bringing art to life.

Previously, Snap has collaborated with institutions such as The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco (FAMSF), as well as partnering with notable modern artists like Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, and KAWS on various AR art activations.

This approach could effectively engage modern audiences, providing a creative link that ensures classic art remains relevant and accessible to younger generations.

Ghost Variations continues this trend and may also highlight the potential of AR art projects while fostering skills in AR creation.

It's an intriguing initiative that could gain even more significance as AR wearables become more widely available.

For more information about the Ghost Variations project at the Lincoln Center, you can visit their site, and the experience is accessible globally within Snap by searching for the "Ghost Variations" Lens in the app.