The Cemetery as an Interactive Museum

Memory, Preservation, and Immersive Technologies

Authors

  • Isis Santana Rodrigues Federal University of Espírito Santo image/svg+xml
  • Jan Clefferson Costa de Freitas State University of Ceará image/svg+xml , Postgraduate Program in Philosophy , Brazilian Association of Cemetery Studies
  • Thaís Thomaz Bovo Prefeitura do Município de São Paulo image/svg+xml , Federal University of Bahia image/svg+xml , Cybermuseums Study Group , Brazilian Association of Cemetery Studies

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47456/rf.rf.2234.53284

Keywords:

cemetery tourism; immersive technologies; cultural heritage; collective memory; digital mediation

Abstract

This article investigates the potential to transform the Santo Antônio Cemetery in Vitória (Espírito Santo) into a tourist attraction through the application of immersive technologies—such as augmented reality headsets to create interpretive routes and artificial intelligence to "animate" funerary monuments—thereby fostering a playful, educational, and interactive environment. The proposal seeks to reinterpret collective memory through digital cultural mediation, enhancing both heritage preservation and the site's tourism potential. To support this approach, the study compiled photographic records, conducted an interpretive analysis of sculptural elements, and reviewed specialized literature to provide a critical perspective on the heritage site. Field research also addressed infrastructure, accessibility, and safety, guiding the formulation of initial proposals for a potential partnership between the municipal government and the Federal University of Espírito Santo.

Author Biographies

  • Isis Santana Rodrigues, Federal University of Espírito Santo

    She is a doctoral candidate in Art and Culture (UFES), holds a Master’s degree in Arts specializing in Art Theory and History (UFES, 2021), a postgraduate degree in Arts Education from Faculdade de Vitória (2019), and a degree in Visual Arts (Teaching Licentiate) from UFES (2019). She is an active researcher at the LEENA Laboratory (UFES), focusing on public art with an emphasis on cemetery art in the state of Espírito Santo. She conducts comprehensive studies on the presence and significance of cemetery art within local culture, participating in interdisciplinary projects and collaborating on interviews with state newspapers to promote the understanding and appreciation of public and cemetery artistic heritage.

  • Jan Clefferson Costa de Freitas, State University of Ceará, Postgraduate Program in Philosophy, Brazilian Association of Cemetery Studies

    Holds a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degree, as well as a Post-Doctorate, in Philosophy from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. Holds a teaching degree in Philosophy and a specialization in Neuroscience from Faculdade Única de Minas Gerais. Holds specializations in Botany, Medicinal Cannabis, and Philosophy Teaching from Faculdade do Leste Mineiro. Holds specializations in Ontology and Epistemology, Paleontology and Culture, Indigenous Ethnology, and Contemporary Philosophy from Faculdade Prisma. Visiting Professor of Philosophy at the State University of Ceará. Guest Professor for the Postgraduate Program in Therapeutic Entheogenics at the Hermes Institute for Human Transformation. Guest Professor for the Postgraduate Program in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy at the Advanced Center for Psychedelic Medicine. Contributing Member of the Brazilian Association of Cemetery Studies.

  • Thaís Thomaz Bovo, Prefeitura do Município de São Paulo, Federal University of Bahia, Cybermuseums Study Group, Brazilian Association of Cemetery Studies

    She holds a PhD and a Master’s degree in Art History from USP, where she also earned her undergraduate degree in History. With a solid interdisciplinary background, she holds degrees in Law, Pedagogy, Visual Arts, Philosophy, and Special Education. She is currently pursuing studies in Museology and Psychology. A specialist in Public Management, Heritage, and Education Law, she is a researcher with the Cybermuseums Study Group (GREC/UFBA) and studies religious works by modernist artists, particularly Candido Portinari. She is a member of the Brazilian Association of Cemetery Studies (ABEC). Currently, she serves as a Pedagogical Coordinator for the São Paulo City Government and as a university professor, possessing extensive experience in cultural management (including tenures at SESI and SESC), higher education, and teacher training.

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Published

2026-07-30

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 34 (2026)

Section

Seção Temática

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Copyright (c) 2026 Isis Santana Rodrigues, Jan Clefferson Costa de Freitas, Thaís Thomaz Bovo

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How to Cite

RODRIGUES, I. S.; FREITAS, J. C. C. DE; BOVO, T. T. The Cemetery as an Interactive Museum: Memory, Preservation, and Immersive Technologies. Farol, v. 22, n. 34, p. 155–170, 30 Jul.2026.