In September 2024, the Chornobyl National Museum will host the presentation of an innovative museum product — the virtual augmented reality mirror (ARM) project “Images of the Courageous” with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Fund. This project, created to complement the museum’s permanent exhibition, combines virtuality and reality, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to learn more about the history of the liquidation of the consequences of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant accident. Dmytro Matyash, the author and founder of the NGO eMuseum, tells more about this project.
About the idea of creating a project: The idea of creating this project was born from the desire to combine history and modern technologies. We wanted not just to show the costumes of the liquidators, but also to give visitors the opportunity to literally feel part of those events. This became possible thanks to the Augmented Reality (ARM) technologies integrated into the museum space. Thus, “Images of the Courageous” allows visitors not only to see but also to try on history. About the virtual mirror: A virtual mirror is a technology that allows a person to interact with digital objects in real-time. In our case, it is an opportunity to “try on” the suits of liquidators of the accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. These costumes are created based on materials from the museum’s stock collection. The virtual mirror “transports” you to the past, allowing you to feel a part of that heroic history.
About choosing a project topic:
Liquidators of the Chornobyl disaster are people whose exploits are often overlooked by the general public. They risked their lives and health to stop a catastrophe on a global scale. We believe that their heroism should be properly honored and preserved for future generations. With the help of our project, we aim not only to preserve the memory of these people but also to bring their history closer to the modern viewer.
About the relevance of the project in the conditions of modern war:
In modern conditions, when Ukraine is again forced to fight for its independence and freedom, it is important to remember that heroism has many forms. Liquidators of the Chornobyl disaster were warriors – they fought against an invisible enemy, saving not only Ukraine but the whole world.
The Soviet authorities tried to hide the fact of the accident, but now, thanks to projects like “Images of the Courageous”, we can shed light on these events and show the importance of this tragedy and the feat of the liquidators. The Soviet authorities did everything possible to silence the scale of the disaster and devalue the role of those who liquidated it. Our project is an opportunity to finally tell the truth, to show the real weight of these events and the heroic efforts of people who stood up to protect humanity from danger. It is also a reminder that history should not be distorted or forgotten.
In addition, the debt of our government to citizens who have Chornobyl benefits already amounts to one and a half of the state budgets of Ukraine. Therefore, speaking about the need to honor defined heroes. We hope to draw the authorities’ attention to this injustice. The liquidators gave their lives and health for our sake, and we must do everything possible to ensure that they receive proper recognition and support from the state.
About technological challenges:
The main challenge was to convey historical details as accurately as possible while providing an interactive and comprehensible experience for visitors. We worked closely with museum experts and historians to achieve this balance. Each costume has been digitally recreated in detail so that visitors can see and feel it as realistically as possible
About expectations from the project
We hope that “Images of the Courageous” will become an important element of the museum exhibition, which will not only attract the attention of visitors but also contribute to a deeper understanding of the history of the Chornobyl disaster and the feat of the liquidators. We also hope that this project will inspire other museums to introduce new technologies into their exhibitions.
