City centre turned into 'floating' art display

Celine Llewellyn-Jones says the project gives people the chance to experience art in an unexpected way.

A new open-air art exhibition has started in Coventry city centre.

The project uses augmented reality (AR) to help people see large artworks that seemingly float in the air when viewed using a smartphone or tablet.

Called "This is me, This is us", the display has been created entirely by disabled and neurodivergent artists and, using a QR code, viewers can see a number of sculptures and paintings.

The works can be seen until 31 October on Broadgate Square in the city.

AR is an interactive experience where your real-world environment is augmented, added to or enhanced using computer generated content.

Ismatjahan Ravat got the chance to see her art

Celine Llewellyn-Jones, the project manager, told BBC CWR: "I'm very aware of the challenges that disabled artists face and I really wanted to make a stand for disabled artists and try to create something that is completely public."

The exhibition has been created by artists from Art Riot Collective and Coventry University's Disabled Staff and Carers Network.

Sabiha Suleman, support worker for artist Ismatjahan Ravat, said: "She's a neurodivergent artist, she's non-verbal but is very verbal when she is painting.

"Before she started coming to Art Riot, she used to do very small artwork, very detailed, very delicate, very colourful but she used to work very small.

"Now Art Riot has given her the opportunity to go big and she has started painting on canvas. It's been on public display which has brought her a lot of joy.

"This project has blown it up massively so everyone can see it and it won't get damaged."

Using devices, art work is blown up on a large scale and appears to float in the air

The exhibition has been funded by Coventry City Council and the Arts Council.

Devices can be borrowed from Coventry's Central Library.