The Ruskin was selected by British Council Malaysia to take part in a ‘Pop Up’ exhibition and related events in Kuala Lumpur, showcasing projects from a range of UK Universities, including Durham, Sheffield and Southampton. The exhibition aimed to encourage international student recruitment at UK institutions by demonstrating the cutting-edge innovations, collections and projects open to students attending a UK University.

The Ruskin showcased bespoke VR experiences, combining works from The Ruskin Whitehouse Collection with VR technology and student innovation. The Ruskin also exhibited a range of AR experiences using iPads with specially designed postcards displaying related works from The Collection. Each postcard displayed one work from The Collection with a QR code linking it to a a related photographic image for users to explore the ongoing relevance of Ruskin’s works to the current challenges of the 21st century, such as climate change and rapidly developing technologies.

The VR was well received at the British Council event, attracting a wide range of visitors. Younger users particularly enjoyed the interactive sketchbook. Visitors were impressed that the VR and AR experiences had been developed by Lancaster University students and inquired about relevant courses at Lancaster.