Chongqing - On July 15, the highly anticipated "Fantasy Chongqing" Cyber Wonderland Exhibition was grandly inaugurated at the T2 International Contemporary Art Center in TESTBED 2, Chongqing. The exhibition will run from July 15 to September 17, offering audiences a spectacular blend of art, urban culture, and imagination.

Visitors explore the interactive and futuristic displays at the "Fantasy Chongqing" Cyber Wonderland Exhibition, capturing the imaginative blend of art and technology. (Photo/Li Xinyi)

Fantasy Chongqing is China's premier sci-fi graphic collection themed around a city, crafted by the acclaimed Unicorn under the Chongqing Publishing Group. This series has published numerous celebrated fantasy literary classics, such as The Three-Body Problem, A Song of Ice and Fire, The Witcher, and more, all of which have garnered widespread acclaim from readers. Fantasy Chongqing aims to depict Chongqing's distinctive urban landscape, rich cultural heritage, geographical features, and future aspirations through a collection of short and medium-length fantasy narratives.

The inaugural volume of Fantasy Chongqing features contributions from 11 distinguished sci-fi writers. In addition, the book showcases nearly 100 exceptional sci-fi-themed photographs selected from the "Fantasy Chongqing Photography Competition." The exhibition brings the book's sci-fi stories to life, integrating exhibition hall design to create nine immersive story scenes. Visitors can experience the novel's content in a multi-dimensional format, capturing the unique allure of Chongqing, the "City of Magic."

Visitors immerse themselves in the captivating visuals and sci-fi narratives at the "Fantasy Chongqing" Cyber Wonderland Exhibition. (Photo/Li Xinyi)

The curatorial team has ingeniously designed the exhibition based on the book's narratives, carefully considering spatial dynamics. Their goal is to craft an immersive experience that resonates with younger audiences, serving as a popular photo spot. The exhibition leans towards a comprehensive display rather than pure art. The Fantasy Chongqing collaboration aims to accentuate the city's sci-fi, magical, and technological facets, laying the groundwork for future series expansions. Through the lens of "fantasy," all content is vividly brought to life. The photos, colors, and visuals prominently feature cyber elements, creating an artificial yet comfortable space.

Launching the Fantasy Chongqing IP is an initiative to foster cultural prosperity and showcase Chongqing's vitality and dynamism as a pivotal strategic hub in Western development. This endeavor represents a novel attempt to integrate cultural content from print media into public life and tourism consumption spaces, epitomizing a fusion of literature and art.

Visitors contemplate the vibrant, futuristic cityscape at the "Fantasy Chongqing" Cyber Wonderland Exhibition. (Photo/Li Xinyi)

Following the opening ceremony, a salon session titled "Fantasy Chongqing in My Eyes" was held. During this session, Fantasy Chongqing authors Earl E, Xiao Xinghan, Sui Shi, and photographers Liu Songlin and Luo Xuan engaged in profound discussions with the audience, sharing their stories and creative insights about Chongqing. Earl E believes Chongqing, dubbed the "City of Magic" and the "Cyberpunk Capital," requires deeper connotations beyond its mesmerizing scenery. Xiao Xinghan noted that viewing Chongqing from a sci-fi perspective reveals the city in a new light. Sui Shi considers Chongqing a multi-modal, overlapping city, with each facet being highly competitive.

Visitors admire and capture the stunning cyberpunk-inspired visuals at the "Fantasy Chongqing" Cyber Wonderland Exhibition. (Photo/Li Xinyi)

During his visit, Mr. Chen from Suzhou remarked, "This is my first time in Chongqing. I had only seen the city's magical charm online and wanted to witness its magic in person. Coincidentally, I encountered this exhibition, which presented a completely different side of Chongqing. It feels like this is how Chongqing is meant to be." Meanwhile, Ms. Xie from Beijing observed, "This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to understand Chongqing's culture from a fresh perspective. There are countless online discussions about Chongqing being a cyberpunk, magical city, but the exhibition vividly brings those imaginations to life."

This exhibition not only showcases the distinctive charm of Chongqing, the "City of Magic," but also provides the audience with an immersive experience that transcends the boundaries of reality and science fiction, marking the latest practice of integrating literature and art.