︎︎︎ What inspired you to use the QR Code as a subject in your art?
The idea for the project started when our team noticed that so many people were looking at and scanning the QR codes on SafeEntry posters every day, yet the posters were rather plain and unappealing, and we saw this as an opportunity to make something necessary and practical, more inspiring and impactful. Through the project, we hope to engage the community while innovating for a better and safer environment.
︎︎︎ Has the response to your art and the QR Code been a favourable one?
Yes! So far the posters have been downloaded over 400 times from our website, and we've been in touch with some of the businesses and services who have put them up, and they've shared that they've received positive feedback from their customers who appreciate the art and find the concept of merging QR codes with art very unique.
︎︎︎ In your opinion, has the QR Code been a more convenient option in terms of being an accessibility point to the digital space?
Absolutely, and I agree with your statement that QR codes bridge the gap between the digital and physical space. This has been made even more apparent during this pandemic, as going contactless is becoming the norm and digital tools and mediums change the ways we live and work. In fact to us, it's clear that QR codes are going to be part of our lives for the long run and change our regular habits, so it's really about how we can integrate them more seamlessly into our day-to-day environments – and we believe this can be done through art. By reimagining QR codes with art, we transform them into not just a convenient option, but a more meaningful and impactful one as well.
︎︎︎ With the advent of technology, how prevalent do you think QR Codes will be in the future? Will it remain relevant on print?
As mentioned above, I definitely think QR codes are starting to become very prevalent in our daily lives – for instance in F&B where in order to facilitate contactless service, many establishments are starting to host their menus online and utilising QR codes to disseminate them. Another example is in retail where shops and malls are using QR codes to share the latest deals. And with SafeEntry, it reduces the need for paper methods of contact tracing. As you've mentioned, there's a big positive environmental aspect to it as well as these businesses no longer have to keep reprinting materials, and can simply update whatever's online. Making QR codes and other similar digital tools more mainstream and seamless is important in creating a more sustainable future for all and we hope that we can use art to drive this change and increase the take-up rate of such tech.
With regards to whether it will remain relevant on print – I suppose for now, printing QR codes is the easiest, quickest and most cost efficient method of distributing them, but hopefully in the near future, technology will develop and other alternative methods will become more widely available...perhaps they can be projected? Or perhaps they can even be painted as part of art murals at the entrances of establishments! As we look to the future, I agree that having print and digital exist codependently is important in building a world where we think and live sustainably, while still honouring and treasuring the print traditions of the past.
With regards to whether it will remain relevant on print – I suppose for now, printing QR codes is the easiest, quickest and most cost efficient method of distributing them, but hopefully in the near future, technology will develop and other alternative methods will become more widely available...perhaps they can be projected? Or perhaps they can even be painted as part of art murals at the entrances of establishments! As we look to the future, I agree that having print and digital exist codependently is important in building a world where we think and live sustainably, while still honouring and treasuring the print traditions of the past.
︎︎︎ Anything else to add?
At GOFY, we believe that art has a place beyond gallery walls. Art is for everybody; it enriches the everyday experiences of people and can help us form deep and meaningful connections. Art and print have long been intrinsically tied, but just as print is evolving and entering into a new age, so is art, and it's exciting to see a rise in technology-driven art experiences that marry the traditional with the modern. Thank you for this opportunity and am excited to see the final product!