Diego Luna, Denise Gough, Jeffrey Wright, and Richard Ayoade Contribute Voices to Liam Young’s Groundbreaking Immersive Experience ‘In Other Worlds’ at Barbican Centre
A new immersive exhibition titled In Other Worlds has opened at London’s Barbican Centre, inviting visitors to explore speculative futures for the planet through the lens of real technology and climate possibilities. The experience, created by designer and director Liam Young, features a prologue and epilogue narrated by actor Diego Luna, known for his roles in Rogue One and Andor. The exhibition aims to engage audiences in envisioning a hopeful future.
A Journey Through Six Worlds
Visitors to In Other Worlds embark on a journey through six distinct realms, each showcasing a blend of audio stories, LED film displays, tapestries, costumes, and large-scale projections. The immersive experience also includes set designs, movie miniatures, and speculative artifacts. Notable contributors to the audio experience include Jeffrey Wright, Maxine Peake, Adam Young, Denise Gough, Finnish actress Alma Pöysti, Australian actress Natasha Wanganeen, space scientist and broadcaster Maggie Aderin, and director Richard Ayoade.
The exhibition is the result of collaboration among various writers, including Lisa Joy, Kim Stanley Robinson, Chen Qiufan, Jane Wu, and AI scholar Kate Crawford, with costumes designed by Ane Crabtree.
Exploring the Future
According to a description from the Barbican, the exhibition operates at the intersection of design, fiction, and future possibilities. It challenges visitors to step away from dystopian narratives and consider what a hopeful future could look like. Young emphasizes that the future is not a passive occurrence but an active creation shaped by collective decisions.
Luke Kemp, head of creative programming at Barbican Immersive, highlighted the importance of the exhibition in addressing pressing contemporary issues. He stated that the immersive program serves as a platform for exploring vital topics, placing visitors at the heart of the experience. Kemp expressed excitement about collaborating with Young and his team to create environments that inspire new narratives and visions for the future.
Speculative Worlds and Collective Imagination
During a press preview, Young noted that the exhibition aims to present speculative worlds that serve as rehearsals for potential futures. He acknowledged that while this is his first solo exhibition in the U.K., the project could not have been realized without the contributions of his creative partners.
Among the concepts explored in the exhibition are the World Machine, Technoglomerates, and a new Aboriginal space industry. One of the most ambitious ideas presented is Planet City, envisioned as a single metropolis capable of housing the entire global population of 10 billion people. Young described Planet City as a vibrant space filled with life, diversity, and cultural celebrations, despite its high population density.
A Call for Hope
While some of the worlds depicted may appear dark, Young aims to instill a sense of hope in visitors. He described In Other Worlds as a collection of visions for a hopeful future, inviting audiences to engage in a shared conversation about what the future could entail. Young articulated the urgency of reimagining the future, stating that it is a project for the current generation to undertake, especially in challenging times.
The exhibition also breaks new ground by extending beyond the traditional spaces of the Barbican, concluding in its parking garage, thereby eliminating boundaries for imagination and creativity.
Provocative Imagery and Future Challenges
Young emphasized that In Other Worlds is not merely a collection of solutions but an attempt to reorient perspectives towards new visions that operate on a planetary scale. He acknowledged that many of the images presented are provocative and confrontational, challenging conventional notions of what a hopeful future looks like. Instead of familiar images of green spaces, the exhibition features large-scale geoengineering and infrastructural transformations that reflect the scale of contemporary challenges.
He concluded by stating that the crises faced today are not solely technological but also imaginative. Young believes that the potential for change lies in our ability to envision new possibilities and act upon them.
As reported by www.hollywoodreporter.com.
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Published on 2026-05-21 12:06:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk