ELIXR playtests augmented reality overlay on Branden Cha's Azure Dragon mural in Chinatown

An augmented-reality experience is coming to Edmonton's Chinatown this Friday, turning Branden Cha's striking Azure Dragon of the East mural into an interactive digital artwork viewable through smartphone cameras.

ELIXR Simulations, a not-for-profit advancing extended reality in Canada, is hosting a public playtest on Aug. 29 at the Mah Society of Edmonton, 9643 101A Avenue NW. Participants scan a QR code and use their phones to explore video and digitally overlaid artwork layered on top of Cha's mural — no app required.

"The mural transforms, where you actually see the dragon come to life and then moving throughout the space," said Andrea Urbina, CEO of ELIXR. "Being able to enhance and build off of Branden's vision and able to create completely new artwork that works with what exists there (was key)."

The XR experience was built by two students — Avi from Red Deer Polytechnic and Flor from Pixel Blue College — as part of ELIXR's protégé program, funded by $140,000 from the province's Northern and Regional Economic Development Program. The students are incorporating feedback from Friday's playtest into their professional development. "We need to put the experience in front of real users, so that we can actually gather more feedback around it," Urbina said.

Chinatown advocate Shawn Tse pitched the project to bring foot traffic and engagement to the neighbourhood. "How can immersive technology bring more people to Chinatown? Honouring and celebrating Chinatown as a cultural space is important, but down to brass tacks, (we need to get) people to go to Chinatown, to play in Chinatown, and to eat in Chinatown."

Tse had an existing relationship with artist Cha, having booked a documentary about this same mural at last year's FascinAsian Film Festival. The XR experience includes a video from Cha explaining the cultural significance of the dragon and his vision for the work, which draws on themes of inclusion and shared responsibilities. "(The mural) kind of holds as the gateway for people to get connected to this message," Cha said.

The playtest is timed to coincide with Chinatown After Dark, organized by YEG Chinatown Re:VITA at 10640 98 Street NW. Early arrivals at the playtest receive vouchers for food or drink at the later event.

Cha is preparing to paint his next mural, The Black Tortoise of the North, in the coming weeks. ELIXR and Tse are planning to expand the XR roster to additional murals. Construction of the new Chinatown Gate began March 9th 2026 and is expected to complete next year.