INTO THE UNKNOWN, BARBICAN CENTRE
Into the Unknown: A Journey through Science Fiction is a genre-defining exhibition of art, design, film, and literature.
Bringing together artists, designers, filmmakers, SFX specialists, musicians, and writers, Into the Unknown explores the boundaries of reality through some of the most experimental works of all time. Curated by Swiss historian and writer Patrick Gyger, this festival-style exhibition reimagines classic science fiction narratives through a new, global lens.
The exhibition takes visitors on an extraordinary journey—from a 19th-century cabinet of curiosities to the vast vistas of space, through visions of future cities, and into the inner landscapes of human perception.
We designed an illuminated portal to act as a threshold into the exhibition, a motif that was referenced throughout the various sections. Time capsules containing printed works were lit with pulsating lights playing across infinity mirrors. Concealed footlights cast exaggerated shadows of robots and models onto walls and ceilings, creating an atmosphere of abstracted axes and dystopia that supported the exhibition's narrative.
Drawing inspiration from iconic scenes in the science fiction films featured in the show, we helped create a dynamic and dramatic display environment.
Opening Date: 2017
Exhibition Design: Ab Rogers Design
Graphic Design: designbypraline
AV Design : Harmonic Kinetic