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Introduction
Did you know that you can paint a QR code and it will still be functional? Did you know you could also put a QR code in a film, or an outfit, or a cross stitch? Or that you can greatly alter the design of a QR code and still have it be scannable. Well you can!
Modern artists from all over the globe have been using QR codes in their works while also twisting the medium to give it more visual flare. By incorporating QR codes into a piece of artwork, you can make just about any piece an interactive one, providing the audience with an unforgettable experience.
In this piece, I will go over how artists can use QR codes in their work, as well as share some examples of ones who have already found success doing just that. So let’s get started and learn about how to turn QR codes into works of art!
What are artistic QR codes?
Artistic QR codes go beyond the simple black and white squares that codes are typically made of and present them in a way that’s both functional and visually appealing. Because of the robust error correction algorithms baked into QR codes, it’s possible to edit the visual design greatly into a work of art and still have them be scannable.
Artistic QR codes can blend traditional artistic techniques with modern technology and provide the audience with a level of interactivity not found in other works. By incorporating QR codes into art work, you can make your piece stand out from any other works in the gallery or collection.
Inversely, by combining artistic techniques to QR codes in something like an advertising campaign, you can have your codes appear unique and better catch the eye of whoever may be passing by. Whatever you choose to do, mixing art with QR codes will help your work attract more attention.
How can you use QR codes in art?
How you incorporate QR codes in a work of art is all up to your own imagination! As an artist, you can decide how to display your code, how your audience interacts with it, and what content is accessed once scanned.
Maybe you want your code to be the focal point, up front and grabbing attention. Or perhaps you want your audience to find your code hidden in the background, providing them with a sort of puzzle solving experience.
You could have your code link to your own portfolio, the gallery website, or even a short film or song that accompanies the piece. You can do a painting, a photograph, a drawing, film, gouache, water color, sculpture, pottery, fuse beads, digital art, whatever your imagination will let you!
Examples
For the 2012 Union Gallery exhibition, painter and digital artist Trevor Jones created several works depicting large QR codes. These paintings, done with vivid shades of impasto paint, all link to a bespoke website Jones created specifically for this exhibition, Mark of Beauty.
https://www.trevorjonesart.com/work_collection/qr-code-paintings/
The Elkoy Artist Collective have launched their platform called ArtQRCode. The goal of this group is to create unique and functional codes that instantly grab the attention of any passersby. Clients of theirs include Nike, Panerai, and Louis Vouton.
Tips
- Focus on creating a work of art first before thinking of each piece as a QR code.
- Know the medium you’re working with.
- Only use a QR code if it benefits or enhances the experience.
- Use high contrast so that each code is still scannable.
- Test your codes on multiple devices.
- Know your audience.
Conclusion
There’s all sorts of ways you can incorporate QR codes into artwork and vice versa. Since QR codes exist in the physical world as 2D images and are highly customizable, the only real limit is your imagination.
Whether you make a painting, a photo, or even a cross stitch pattern, QR Code developers can provide the tools necessary to generate the code you use with them. Get started with our free tools today!