World Expo 2050: Art & Fantasy
Info
- Digital artwork by Olio Imaginarium
- A series of 100 digital artworks
- Year: 2023
Artwork In brief
Welcome to ’Art & Fantasy,’ the visionary chapter of ’World Expo 2050’—a collection of 100 themed islands that present human creativity across epochs. Far beyond the history of art, this series reaches into the realms of fantasies, myths, and utopias. Immerse yourself in vivid mini-worlds sculpted from imagination, redefining the museum experience.
The World Expo 2050 reimagines the concept of exhibition, moving beyond the traditional confines of museums to create spectacular themed floating islands—each a microcosm of human achievement and imagination. Inspired by the 1900 Paris World Affair, this monumental expo settles for nothing less than revealing the full spectrum of world’s wonders. For your convenience, the islands are neatly packaged into three parts: ’World Expo I: History & Culture,’ ’World Expo II: Science & Nature,’ and ’World Expo III: Art & Fantasy.’
While museums have long preserved and showcased historical artifacts, they have also been criticized as old-fashioned and uninspiring storehouses of knowledge. Welcome to the future, where museums have evolved into immersive worlds, offering a wealth of experiences. Each island is its own universe, limited only by the scope of imagination. Far more than exhibitions, these are ’universums’—mini-worlds where visitors immerse themselves in the pivotal themes of history, science, art, and culture. In these spaces, visitors are not just spectators but active participants in vibrant, living worlds.
Islands of Art
The Islands of Art trace the evolution of creativity from ancient cave paintings to futuristic VR-based artworks. Begin your journey in the ’Masters of Art’ section, an archipelago that captures the timeless heritage of the renowned artists and creatives through history. Next up, discover islands that explore art movements, vividly portraying the dreamy worlds of Surrealism, the bold colors of Fauvism, and the intricate detail and symbolism of Pre-Raphaelitism. For true connoisseurs seeking a deeper dive, special focus islands await: one celebrates origami art, another honors street art, and a third exhibits fine art mosaics. Feeling adventurous? Venture further into the ’Future of Art’ islands to experience hologram art, VR-based cinema, and sculptures made of light.
Islands of Fantasy
Ready to step into the realm of imagination? Enter the Islands of Fantasy. Here, in these enchanted floating lands, fairy tales come to life, imagination reigns supreme, dreams take shape, all unbound by rules. Highlights include a snowy Manhattan transformed into a skatepark, the Island of Endless Monsoon, the underwater city of Atlantis, a colossal floating piano repurposed as a public park, islands of unicorns and magicians, an enchanted fantasy zoo, Jurassic Island, and a floating steampunk zeppelin airport. There is no shortage of fairy tale kingdoms that surpass the wildest of dreams. And the pinnacle of this experience? The opportunity to build your custom island using our virtual reality capsule — a personal utopia, crafted from the depths of imagination, showcasing your unique vision.
Islands of Joy
The journey culminates with the beloved Islands of Joy, a celebration of entertainment, festivals, music, dance, and sports. Don’t miss the fun on festival islands, featuring the dazzling Grand Circus Show, eerie Halloween festivities, the vibrant Indian Holi festival, hip street dance showdowns, and the ’Midnight Sun’ outdoor cinema festival. For those seeking thrill and adrenaline, the extreme sports islands offer action-packed activities from rock climbing to bike races and downhill skiing. For a more relaxed experience, try the minigolf island or catch the perfect wave on Surfing Islands. The ‘Attraction Archipelago’ presents a selection of the world’s major attractions, from the Taj Mahal to the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty—all conveniently within a short walk. The excitement of Pirate Island and the pastoral charm of Farm Island are guaranteed to delight kids. For music lovers, there are plenty of options from hip urban indie festivals to multi-floor disco dance clubs and chill-out reggae island. And for a trendy retreat, the Hipster Island is the ideal spot for a coffee break.
See more
It seems there is no domain of humanity that an island cannot capture. Having designed over 200 theme islands for the ’World Expo 2050’, I am struck by the breadth of applications for the concept—yet it feels like we’ve only scratched the surface. Each island is a microcosm, a mini-universe centered around a singular idea, complete with its own intrinsic laws and workings. They package the vast spectrum of human history and culture into easy-to-understand segments, much like a delicious slice of pizza: easily digestible and topped with an endless variety of flavors. Hungry for more? Check the other parts of the series: ’World Expo I: History & Culture,’ and ’World Expo II: Science & Nature’.
Islands of art
The Islands of Art trace the evolution of creativity from ancient cave paintings to futuristic VR-based artworks. Begin your journey in the ’Masters of Art’ section, an archipelago that captures the timeless heritage of the renowned artists and creatives through history. Next up, discover islands that explore art movements, vividly portraying the dreamy worlds of Surrealism, the bold colors of Fauvism, and the intricate detail and symbolism of Pre-Raphaelitism. For true connoisseurs seeking a deeper dive, special focus islands await: one celebrates origami art, another honors street art, and a third exhibits fine art mosaics. Feeling adventurous? Venture further into the ’Future of Art’ islands to experience hologram art, VR-based cinema, and sculptures made of light.
Islands of Fantasy
Ready to step into the realm of imagination? Enter the Islands of Fantasy. Here, in these enchanted floating lands, fairy tales come to life, imagination reigns supreme, dreams take shape, all unbound by rules. Highlights include a snowy Manhattan transformed into a skatepark, the Island of Endless Monsoon, the underwater city of Atlantis, a colossal floating piano repurposed as a public park, islands of unicorns and magicians, an enchanted fantasy zoo, Jurassic Island, and a floating steampunk zeppelin airport. There is no shortage of fairy tale kingdoms that surpass the wildest of dreams. And the pinnacle of this experience? The opportunity to build your custom island using our virtual reality capsule — a personal utopia, crafted from the depths of imagination, showcasing your unique vision.
Islands of Joy
The journey culminates with the beloved Islands of Joy, a celebration of entertainment, festivals, music, dance, and sports. Don’t miss the fun on festival islands, featuring the dazzling Grand Circus Show, eerie Halloween festivities, the vibrant Indian Holi festival, hip street dance showdowns, and the ’Midnight Sun’ outdoor cinema festival. For those seeking thrill and adrenaline, the extreme sports islands offer action-packed activities from rock climbing to bike races and downhill skiing. For a more relaxed experience, try the minigolf island or catch the perfect wave on Surfing Islands. The ‘Attraction Archipelago’ presents a selection of the world’s major attractions, from the Taj Mahal to the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty—all conveniently within a short walk. The excitement of Pirate Island and the pastoral charm of Farm Island are guaranteed to delight kids. For music lovers, there are plenty of options from hip urban indie festivals to multi-floor disco dance clubs and chill-out reggae island. And for a trendy retreat, the Hipster Island is the ideal spot for a coffee break.
