VIRTUAL URBAN GALLERY: An immersive installation based on 3D remote experiences of Toronto Public Art

Public art is important not only for its aesthetic appearance, but also for its contribution to and reflection of the history and culture of the city it inhabits. However, given the intimate connection between public art and its social and geographical contexts, it is not possible to build a physical gallery for public art; the only way to display such artworks together is virtually. Virtual Reality technology provides new opportunities for audiences to experience public art in its social and spatial contexts. This thesis investigates the use of VR to create an interactive virtual gallery of public art in Toronto. This work is an attempt to utilize 3D modeling of public arts and the areas surrounding them, along with an immersive and exploratory interactive experience, to curate a virtual gallery that allows audiences to appreciate and interact with public artworks in an embodied way