WILL AR BE THE BIG IMMERSIVE BREAKTHROUGH?

Thu November 13, 2025 08:00 pm CET

With new smart glasses from Meta and Snap entering the market, Augmented Reality is poised to outgrow VR as the most accessible immersive medium. 
This panel brings together three pioneers shaping the field from different angles – Chidi Nwaubani (art & cultural activism), Heather Dunaway Smith (immersive art & design), and Lien Tran (creative technology & music). 

Moderated by Christopher Morrison, the discussion explores how AR is transforming art, activism, and creative expression  and whether it holds the key to making immersion part of everyday life. 

Format

Panel

App

VRChat

Location

AREA X

Duration

45 min

Access via

Presenter

Chidi Nwaubani
Creator and Visionary at Looty

Chidi Nwaubani is a Nigerian-British artist and founder of LOOTY.art, pioneering digital repatriation through 3D scanning, AR, and VR. His “digital heists” recreate artefacts like the Benin Bronzes and Rosetta Stone, reimagining ownership and access to cultural heritage. Based between London and Dubai, Chidi merges art, technology, and activism to reclaim lost narratives and empower communities. His work has been featured by BBC, Reuters, and Frieze and recognized at the Venice Biennale 2023. 

Heather Dunaway Smith
Immersive Artist

Heather Dunaway Smith is an award-winning XR artist and technologist crafting immersive experiences that blur the line between art and audience. Throughout her career as a creative director and interactive designer, she has collaborated with leading global brands on projects ranging from virtual worlds and museum exhibits to AR and VR artworks. She’s held AR art residencies with Adobe and Snap, spoken at major conferences including Adobe MAX, and curated several immersive exhibitions.

Lien Tran
Creative Technologist & Musician

Lien is a Vietnamese creative technologist & musician focused on imagining the future of art & tech. She is the singer, songwriter & music producer behind LIÊNA, where she creates catchy, hard-hitting alt-pop. Leveraging her software background in service of her art, Lien is constantly exploring new tools & technologies to bring new dimensions to her music. Beside her music work, Lien’s also an engineer and prototyper, focused on creating experiences and interfaces for the XR medium.

Moderator

Christopher Morrison
writer director

Christopher is a writer-director, and educator redefining storytelling across VR, games, film, and immersive works. His award-winning work spans 200+ projects, including Cannes-selected The Werewolf Experience and AAA games. He pioneers accessibility and innovation in digital media.

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