The Barbican’s In Other Worlds Exhibition Imagines the Future Through Sci-Fi
This summer exhibition at the Barbican contemplates what the future has in store.
With blockbuster films like Project Hail Mary and Dune having been some of the most talked about cinematic events in recent years, there’s no denying it: Sci-Fi is back in vogue. In the fashion space, too, brands like YAKU are trading traditional catwalks for immersive fantasy worlds. As the Sci-Fi renaissance reaches its peak, London’s Barbican has announced a futuristic summer exhibition, right on cue.
Running from May-September 2026, In Other Worlds by Liam Young is a multidisciplinary exhibition which poses the question: “what stories are we leaving behind and what new stories do we dare to imagine if we have no time left to wait?” The exhibition takes place in three spaces across the Barbican: the Silk Street Entrance, The Curve and Car Park 5, and is an immersive exhibition where world-building, science fiction, design and climate science truly collide. It includes films projected on LED walls, audio productions featuring actors such as Richard Ayoade, movie miniatures, fragments of graphic novels and costumes by Ane Crabtree who worked on other Sci-Fi masterpieces like The Handmaid’s Tale and Westworld
The crown jewel (or jewels, considering there are several of them) of the exhibition is the films by Liam Young. BAFTA nominated filmmaker, artist and all-round visionary, Young has created films intended to act as “rehearsals for the world to come”. Combining real-life footage with CGI, the films speculate on some of the major concerns people (especially Gen Z) have for the future, including the long-term impact of AI use, the search for sustainable energy sources, overpopulation and pollution. Of course, traditional, less-heavy Sci-Fi themes like space travel are also explored, the point of the exhibition is really to transform our hefty worries into digestible, beautiful pieces of art.
And beautiful they are. The films especially have luscious hues of pinks, oranges and yellows, creating a dreamlike futuristic landscape. Different forms of architecture and costume are also explored for visual impact as well as a reflection of the unknown. Hosted in one of London’s most modern museum spaces, In Other Worlds at the Barbican promises to take you away from everyday life and into the future. Further details here.
Credits:
Images courtesy of Barbican
Words: Cable Writers
