.ART brings augmented reality mask exhibition to ICANN87 in Bali

.ART Registry will present MASK — A Portal Between Identities, an augmented reality exhibition, at ICANN87 in Bali from Oct. 17-22, 2026. The show uses smartphone-based AR to let attendees virtually wear five artist-made masks, blending Balinese cultural themes with digital identity and interaction.

Why it matters: - The exhibition turns a standard conference art display into an interactive AR experience that lets visitors become part of the artwork. - The concept connects cultural heritage, digital identity and internet governance in one setting, which may widen the audience for both contemporary art and AR tools. - The format builds on .ART Registry’s prior AR exhibition at ICANN84 in Dublin and pushes the experience from viewing digital art to wearing it.

What happened: - .ART Registry announced MASK — A Portal Between Identities, an augmented reality exhibition at ICANN87 in Bali, Indonesia, running Oct. 17-22, 2026. - The exhibition features five international artists and is curated and presented by .ART during the ICANN meeting. - The project is powered by the augmented reality platform Illust. - .ART says visitors can use smartphones to scan a QR code, activate the camera and virtually try on each of the five masks in real time.

The details: - The exhibition explores the mask as a symbol of transformation, identity and connection. - The participating artists are Yuliya (YO_DESi) Ovcharyk, Özlem Mehder, LMDesigns8, João Peixinho and Claudia Tong. - Their work draws on mythology, ritual, memory, imagined worlds and contemporary digital identities. - Visitors can capture photographs and videos of their AR transformations. - The exhibition is inspired by Bali’s cultural heritage, where masks have long played roles in performance, ceremony, storytelling and spiritual practice. - .ART says the show examines how ancient artistic forms can take on new meaning in digital environments. - The exhibition follows Between Nature and Code, .ART’s AR show at ICANN84 in Dublin in 2025. - The announcement points readers to more information about the exhibition and artists.

Between the lines: - .ART is using ICANN as a platform to position art and technology as part of the same conversation about the future of the internet. - The move from viewing AR art on a phone to virtually wearing it signals a push toward more immersive and participatory digital art experiences. - The Bali setting adds a cultural layer that ties the digital project to local traditions rather than treating the masks as purely aesthetic objects.

What's next: - Visitors at ICANN87 will be able to experience the exhibition in person during the Oct. 17-22 run. - The project may serve as a proof point for future AR exhibitions that combine physical events, cultural storytelling and wearable digital art. - .ART and Illust. are likely to use the show to extend their work at the intersection of art, culture and emerging technology.