This paper presents an augmented reality storytelling system designed to enhance museum accessibility, interpretation, and visitor engagement through the use of animated avatars and 3D reconstructions. Developed by a multidisciplinary team at Politecnico di Torino, the project focuses on three sculptures from the Museum of Oriental Art (MAO) in Turin that illustrate the evolution of Buddha iconography in the Mathura region of northern India. The workflow combines photogrammetric survey, philological reconstruction of missing parts, lightweight 3D modelling, avatar animation, and mobile AR deployment through Unity, Vuforia, and ARCore. A virtual human guide accompanies visitors through the exhibition space, narrating historical content, indicating directions, and explaining stylistic transformations and hypothetical restorations. Reconstructed additions are visually differentiated from the originals to ensure scientific transparency. The study demonstrates how AR and virtual guides can transform traditional museum visits into immersive and inclusive learning experiences, improving communication for audiences of different ages, cultures, and educational backgrounds.
Representation Advances And CHallenges association