Augmenting the Narratives: The Potential of Augmented Reality Counter-Sculptures

While monuments have traditionally served as reminders of notable figures and events, their celebratory dimension introduces complexity as societies evolve and perspectives change. Contemporary debates on decolonization and cancel culture, in the pursuit of justice for the historically oppressed, frequently culminate in the removal or demolition of these landmarks. However, some have criticized it as a form of erasure of history, leading to oblivion. In this context, this article introduces a hypothesis: counter-sculptures, placed noninvasively via augmented reality (AR) technology in juxtaposition to the existing monuments, adding alternative or critical viewpoints on the events depicted by the original landmarks. The article draws inspiration from the discourse on history versus memory, placing these digital interventions as a bridge between amnesia and remembrance, erasure and representation. The article formulates a working definition of the term “counter-sculpture,” emphasizing its role as a complementary, rather than opposing, viewpoint to existing monuments, and explores its relationship with the existing term “counter-monument.” Furthermore, the article delves into their potential role in the debates surrounding decolonization and cancel culture. Lastly, it exemplifies this concept with a prospective intervention: the creation of an AR counter-sculpture of the literary character Velho do Restelo from “Os Lusiadas,” placed in proximity to the Monument of Discoveries in Lisbon, Portugal. In conclusion, this paper highlights AR counter-sculptures’ potential to contribute to the debates on decolonization and cancel culture, by providing a space for underrepresented voices, challenging dominant narratives embodied by existing monuments, thus aiding to reinterpret historical events in a more nuanced and equitable way. Through these digital additions, existing physical sculptures are preserved, while we advocate for a shift in the approach to public monuments from objects of celebration to objects of remembrance, inviting dialogue and exploration from diverse perspectives.