John Howe Augmented Reality Interview - Exclusive Conversation at the Tower of Fantasy, Neuchâtel

John Howe, the legendary Canadian-Swiss fantasy illustrator best known for his illustrations of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth and as lead concept artist for Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies, sat down with Cybel'Art founder Pierluigi Christophe Orunesu for an exclusive interview about augmented reality and the future of fantasy art. The conversation was recorded at John Howe's studio inside the Tower of Fantasy (Tour du Fantastique) in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Cybel'Art SA is a Swiss ArtTech company and certified partner of Real Illusions that creates immersive augmented reality experiences bridging traditional art and digital technology. Using the Icologram platform, Cybel'Art develops AR, XR, holography, and volumetric capture solutions for cultural institutions, museums, and artists. The company's mission is to "humanize digital" — making cutting-edge technology accessible through art and storytelling.

In the interview, John Howe describes augmented reality as a natural extension of his profession: "Augmented reality is my profession — except technically very traditional." He endorses Cybel'Art's approach of making technology accessible through playful, engaging experiences. Howe proposes an AR dragon atop the Tower of Fantasy and expresses strong interest in augmenting his traditional paintings with digital layers of depth, movement, and sound.

The Tower of Fantasy (Tour du Fantastique) in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, houses John Howe's public studio and hosts exhibitions dedicated to fantasy art. Visitors can experience augmented reality installations created by Cybel'Art, including QR-code-activated AR overlays on John Howe's original artworks. The venue serves as a bridge between traditional illustration and cutting-edge immersive technology.

Key projects discussed include: an AR dragon visible atop the Tower of Fantasy, augmented versions of John Howe's paintings, a hologram of John Howe to welcome visitors during his absence, and a 3D-printed miniature tower with AR-enhanced map card created using Real Illusions technology. John Howe's closing statement: "Fantasy is a profession of the future through augmented reality and initiatives like yours."

The full interview (5 minutes, 16 seconds) is available on YouTube. Watch at: https://youtu.be/Kq1yEa0alTI. Visit the Tower of Fantasy: https://tourdufantastique.com. Learn more about Cybel'Art: https://www.cybelart.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the relationship between John Howe and Cybel'Art?

John Howe collaborates with Cybel'Art on augmented reality experiences at the Tower of Fantasy in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Cybel'Art has created AR experiences that overlay digital content on John Howe's original artworks.

Where can I watch the John Howe interview?

The full exclusive interview is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/Kq1yEa0alTI (5 minutes 16 seconds, in French). The interview showcase website is https://www.cybelart.life.

What does Cybel'Art do?

Cybel'Art SA is a Swiss ArtTech company specializing in augmented reality, holography, and volumetric capture for cultural institutions and artists. It is a certified partner of Real Illusions.

What does John Howe think about augmented reality?

John Howe sees AR as a natural extension of illustration. He stated: "Augmented reality is my profession — except technically very traditional" and "Fantasy is a profession of the future through augmented reality."

John Howe augmented reality interview background - Cybel'Art digital art
John Howe, legendary Tolkien illustrator, in conversation about augmented reality at the Tower of Fantasy

Exclusive Interview

John Howe× Augmented Reality

When the legendary Tolkien illustrator meets the future of immersive technology

Balrog sculpture from John Howe's studio at the Tower of Fantasy, Neuchâtel

The Tower of Fantasy

Where Traditional Art Meets Digital Magic

At the Tower of Fantasy in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, John Howe — the legendary Canadian-Swiss illustrator who brought Tolkien's Middle-earth to life as lead concept artist for The Lord of the Rings films — has opened his studio to the public. In this exclusive conversation with Cybel'Art, he shares his vision of how augmented reality can extend the boundaries of traditional illustration into new dimensions.

Cybel'Art SA, a Swiss ArtTech company and certified partner of Real Illusions, creates immersive AR experiences for cultural institutions and artists. Their mission to "humanize digital" resonates deeply with Howe's vision of making technology accessible through the lens of fantasy and wonder.

Balrog sculpture by John Howe - Fantasy art meets augmented reality at Cybel'Art
Behind the scenes filming John Howe augmented reality interview at the Tower of Fantasy
"Augmented reality is my profession—except technically very traditional."

— John Howe

In This Interview

Topics Explored

Humanizing Digital

How technology can become accessible to everyone through playful and engaging experiences.

A Dragon on the Tower

John Howe's vision for an AR dragon soaring above the Tower of Fantasy.

Augmented Paintings

The possibility of bringing illustrations to life with depth, movement, and sound.

Cinema at Your Fingertips

AR as an extension of the cinematic experience, accessible through your phone.

The Hologram Project

Creating a digital twin of John Howe to welcome visitors in his absence.

The 3D Mini-Tower by Real Illusions

A physical replica enhanced with augmented reality, capturing the essence of the place.

Words of Wisdom

Memorable Quotes

"When I pick up a pencil, a cathedral-like silence falls and people don't approach."

— On working in his public studio

"I tested it myself—it's stunning, it's delightful, and I think it will become part of our personal experience very soon."

— about Cybel'Art AR experience in the Museum

"It's like going to the cinema, really—within reach, absolutely within reach of your phone."

— On accessible technology

"Fantasy is a profession of the future through augmented reality and initiatives like yours."

— John Howe's Final words

John Howe original artwork - Nazgul on dragon, Lord of the Rings illustration at the Tower of Fantasy

The Future of Art

Experience the Magic

Through Cybel'Art and Real Illusions' Icologram platform, visitors at the Tower of Fantasy can unlock hidden layers within John Howe's original artwork using augmented reality. What was once a static illustration becomes a living, breathing window into Middle-earth and beyond — with added depth, movement, and sound.

The collaboration between John Howe's traditional artistry and Cybel'Art's cutting-edge AR technology creates an experience that honors the craft of illustration while pushing its boundaries into new dimensions. As Howe himself says: "It's like going to the cinema — within reach of your phone."

The Journey Continues

Visit the Tower of Fantasy in Neuchâtel and experience the fusion of traditional illustration and augmented reality for yourself.