Exploring "Ghosts in the Machine: The Old Zoo" - An Immersive Augmented Reality Experience

"Ghosts in the Machine: The Old Zoo" is an interactive augmented reality experience located at the remnants of the original Griffith Park Zoo in Los Angeles. Designed by Koryn Wicks, a trained dancer and choreographer, the project invites participants to engage with the past through their mobile devices. The experience, which runs on a testing phase app, allows users to explore the zoo's history while encountering a narrative centered around a medium named Phoebe, who is trapped between worlds and needs assistance to resolve her memories.

A spooky immersive game is happening at the old Griffith Park Zoo

Participants begin the experience by activating their cameras, which reveal an altered landscape filled with spectral imagery. As they navigate the old zoo, they follow a map that leads them to various points of interest, where they encounter apparitions and learn about the zoo's history, including stories of mistreated animals and the Griffith Park fire of 1933. Wicks emphasizes that the experience transitions from a haunting to a more contemplative narrative, focusing on themes of familial bonds, grief, and unresolved memories.

A spooky immersive game is happening at the old Griffith Park Zoo

The project was conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic, initially intended as a performance where audiences would follow a dancer through an outdoor space. However, it evolved into a ghostly narrative that utilizes augmented reality technology. Wicks has faced challenges in maintaining the app's functionality, including a complete rebuild of the map feature for the recent pop-up events. She is present at the site to assist participants with the technology and enhance their experience.

A spooky immersive game is happening at the old Griffith Park Zoo

Koryn Wicks stated, “It can be so painful to engage with memory when we’re going through grief, and it can also be really complicated. Because there are good memories and there are also complicated memories. How do you hold space for both?” This sentiment reflects the core emotional themes of the experience, highlighting the complexity of memory and grief.

A spooky immersive game is happening at the old Griffith Park Zoo

While the project has garnered interest, there are concerns regarding the app's reliability and the feasibility of its ongoing development. Wicks has acknowledged these challenges, expressing a desire for institutional or commercial support to ensure the project's sustainability.

A spooky immersive game is happening at the old Griffith Park Zoo

"Ghosts in the Machine: The Old Zoo" is scheduled for additional pop-up events, with Wicks exploring future opportunities to further develop the experience. She also plans to stage a new show later this year that will blend dance with tarot themes, continuing her exploration of immersive storytelling.

A spooky immersive game is happening at the old Griffith Park Zoo

• “I wanted to do sort of a haunted location,” — Koryn Wicks, Designer

A spooky immersive game is happening at the old Griffith Park Zoo

• “Very few people still have their cassettes. Records are still around, but technology phases out.” — Koryn Wicks, Designer

A spooky immersive game is happening at the old Griffith Park Zoo

This immersive experience not only serves as a unique form of entertainment but also as a poignant exploration of memory and loss, set against the backdrop of a historically significant location.

A spooky immersive game is happening at the old Griffith Park Zoo