NARRATIVE REVIEW: THE SYNTHESIS OF METAVERSE AND AR TECHNOLOGIES IN GRAPHIC ART EXHIBITIONS THROUGH SPATIAL.IO AND ADOBE AERO

Abstract

This narrative review investigates the synthesis of metaverse and augmented reality (AR) technologies in graphic art exhibitions, focusing on Spatial.io and Adobe Aero. It aims to evaluate their individual and combined impact on curatorial practice, viewer engagement, and exhibition aesthetics. As graphic art exhibitions increasingly transition from physical spaces into immersive digital environments, platforms like Spatial.io and Adobe Aero have emerged as pivotal tools. However, a comprehensive understanding of how these technologies function in tandem, particularly in shaping hybrid exhibitions, remains underdeveloped. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ACM Digital Library, and IEEE Xplore, targeting publications from 2015 to 2025. Keywords related to metaverse, AR, graphic art, and exhibition design guided the search. Peer-reviewed articles, white papers, and case studies were synthesized by using Prisma framework. Spatial.io facilitates immersive, multi-user virtual galleries, while Adobe Aero enhances site-specific, mobile-based AR interaction. Though each platform presents unique strengths, their combined use in curatorial workflows is rare and underexplored. Key challenges include technical integration, user accessibility, and long-term sustainability. The review identifies a gap in cross-platform strategies and calls for interdisciplinary frameworks that support hybrid exhibition design. This review contributes a conceptual framework for understanding and applying Spatial.io and Adobe Aero in graphic art exhibitions. It advocates for empirical research, cross-platform design models, and institutional support to advance equitable, immersive, and sustainable digital art curation.