Bringing Monster to Life in Augmented Reality

We are proud to partner with acclaimed poet Dzifa Benson on a groundbreaking project that merges her powerful poetry with immersive technology. Monster, Benson’s debut collection, takes audiences into the heart of the Black female experience, exploring themes of identity, resilience, and historical injustice. Through augmented reality on the OPUS platform, Monster transcends the page, allowing readers to experience Benson’s words in new, interactive ways.

‘Poems exploring injustice, identity and joy allow Benson’s lyrical prose and innovative structure to pull readers into a world that reflects the author’s experience as a Black woman born in London and raised in Ghana. Confronting themes of race, gender, and the monstrous in society, this poetry collection is both visceral and mythological, imagining the life of Sarah Baartman, a South African Khoikhoi woman displayed in freak shows in 19th century Europe. It packs an almighty punch.’ – Chaya Colman and Sophie Ezra, Glamour (25 best new books of October 2024), on Monster

The collection also draws from Benson’s own life journey as a Black woman who has navigated multiple worlds, weaving influences from Shakespeare to Ewe mythology into her work. With OPUS: The Next Stage, audiences can experience these complex themes as ‘living poetry’ through original 3D virtual performances in AR, engaging with the text and its meanings in intimate, dynamic settings.

Why Monster is Unique on OPUS This collaboration with Dzifa Benson marks an exciting chapter in the OPUS journey, transforming poetry into a “living sculpture” of language and movement. As an interactive art form, Monster brings the words, emotions, and histories of Benson’s collection into the real world, inviting audiences to experience poetry in a way that’s both accessible and powerfully innovative.

Experience Monster
Select poems from Monster will be available on the OPUS: The Next Stage app, initially being launched on iOS in November 2024, with future performances planned in collaboration with other musicians, actors and artists.

Discover the power of poetry as it blends with augmented reality.