The AR of Monkey House

Gina Kim

About this app

THE AUGMENTED REALITY OF MONKEY HOUSE is an augmented reality project that visually archives the "Monkey House," a medical prison that was established to isolate and treat US military comfort women with STDs in South Korea.

Using a photogrammetry scan of the medical prison, the project archives and preserves the history of the building nicknamed "Monkey House." The AR experience aims to bring viewers to the immersive environment of the medical prison while bringing forward the unknown history of US-South Korea relations. It is an immersive media project that interweaves elements of experimental documentary while actively incorporating a new medium to utilize new technology for social justice.

THE AUGMENTED REALITY OF MONKEY HOUSE is created to accompany TEARLESS, a 360 3D immersive VR project on the same topic. TEARLESS premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 2021 and won the Best Immersive Work at the Geneva International Film Festival. The film has been screened at national museums and galleries in 14 countries followed by critical acclaim and extensive media coverage, including The Los Angeles Times and XR Must in France.

Both TEARLESS and THE AUGMENTED REALITY OF MONKEY HOUSE are internationally co-produced between South Korea and the US. THE AUGMENTED REALITY OF MONKEY HOUSE is produced at the Transnational Storytelling Lab at UCLA, sponsored by Transdisciplinary Seed Grant UCLA, Center for the Study of Women UCLA as well as Venta VR, a leading VR production company in Korea.

To use the app, enable your camera and point it at the QR code found on the distributed postcards. A 3D rendering of the medical prison will appear on your screen with accompanying sound. Headphones are recommended for the best audio experience.

More information can be found at: https://www.ginakimfilms.com/#/tearless-2021/