The paper investigates the use of virtual and mixed reality technologies to enhance the temporary absence of museum artifacts, proposing exhibition strategies based on digital twins, 3D animations, and immersive interaction. Through photogrammetric survey and 3D modeling, a digital replica of the Artemis statue is generated and used to develop interactive and narrative content, including video installations and holographic experiences via HoloLens. The approach aims to improve the understanding of the artifact’s historical transformations and restorations, allowing users to actively explore its reconstruction and formal evolution within a hybrid physical-digital museum environment.
Unquiet Postures. Augmented Reality in the Exhibition Spaces of Sculptural Bodies
This paper explores how augmented, mixed, and multimedia reality can transform the interpretation and exhibition of sculptural heritage in museum environments. Developed through a research project between Università Iuav di Venezia and the Regional Museum Directorate of Veneto, the study focuses on Greek and Roman statues preserved in the National Archaeological Museum of Venice, many of which were altered by Renaissance restorations. Using digital photogrammetry and Structure from Motion workflows, the authors generated accurate digital twins of the sculptures, enabling the analysis of added limbs, reconstructed postures, and historical transformations. These models were then integrated into new exhibition scenarios including animated projections, responsive rotating pedestals, immersive storytelling rooms, and HoloLens mixed-reality holograms. The proposed installations enhance visitor engagement by revealing the hidden biographies of the statues, especially in cases of absence due to loans or restoration. The research demonstrates how interactive technologies can convert the museum into a hybrid learning environment where physical artifacts and digital replicas coexist to improve accessibility, participation, and historical understanding.