simple hack spoils jeff koons x snapchat augmented reality surprise

a schoolboy error or clever marketing? snapchat’s attempt at shrouding a partnership with artist, jeff koons, in mystery has been spoilt by a simple hack.

screenshot by moshe isaacian/snapchat

on monday afternoon the social giant launched a countdown clock on the site art.snapchat.com where users can see an image of central park in new york city. much like the structure on which snapchat is built, the attempt at creating a buzz around the unspecified event was fleeting. software engineer and twitter user jonah grant uncovered the secret by setting the clock on his computer ahead, a hack that easily confused the website and revealed a collaboration with pop artist, Jeff Koons.

screenshot by moshe isaacian/snapchat

before it was quickly taken down, the partnership revealed the use of augmented reality to show koons’ famous art installations as 3D objects in snapchat’s camera around the world. in what appears to be an attempt to further democratise/flood the mainstream in the artist’s work, the collaboration will also give artist’s the chance to have their work displayed as 3D objects in the app.

screenshot by moshe isaacian/snapchat

screenshot by moshe isaacian/snapchat

screenshot by moshe isaacian/snapchat

screenshot by moshe isaacian/snapchat

screenshot by moshe isaacian/snapchat