a time capsule
This exhibition project unfolds at the Sempere hall in the university campus, offering a glimpse into the possible futures of the campus, its architecture, and its diverse community of humans and non-human actors. The curators, led by Juan Carlos Castro-Dominguez, a long-time researcher and professor of Architectural Projects, and Maria Ponce Garrido, a student in UA’s Architecture program, present a thoughtful exploration of how a campus might look and feel when time stretches and the present is examined through a speculative lens. Castro-Dominguez is also the founder and director of Fab Lab Alicante, with extensive experience curating events that intersect technology, sound art, and electronic music.
In statements from the rector of the University of Alicante, the project is framed as an initiative that imagines the university before the wear of material reality, asking what remains when structures are tested by time. A video accompanying the exhibition tour introduces a fictional scenario in which the university shifts from on site presence to a metaverse existence. The rector notes that the collaboration blends architecture with narrative fiction and hopes for a future where face-to-face campus life endures in some form.
a time capsule
The curators describe several interconnected sections that shape the sample: architecture and infrastructures, materials, non-human actors, and a soundscape. There is also a dedicated space described as a time capsule inviting visitors to contribute UA related objects, creating a collective chronicle of the campus.
Speculative fiction is used as a tool to reflect on future changes in the ecosystem that comprises the University of Alicante. The installation offers an immersive and accessible environment that contemplates how social isolation, as experienced in recent times, might influence future campus life. It invites intense discussions about measures to address critical situations such as public health crises and environmental challenges, and how people may relate to nature and nonhuman actors. The exhibit unfolds across chapters focusing on architecture and infrastructures, materials, non-human actors, and soundscapes.
activities
Alongside the exhibition, a series of events invites both the university community and the public to engage actively. Visitors can contribute to a collective time capsule, take guided tours led by the curators at specific times, and participate in special events such as a White Night celebration with exclusive access to the exhibition and a nocturnal tour of UA’s infrastructures.
The Higher Polytechnic School designed the experience, and the exhibition is supported by Hidraquathe. It will remain open to the public until 22 July.
At the opening ceremony, leadership from the university and related departments emphasized culture, sports, and university extension as integral parts of campus life, underscoring the collaboration between faculties and cultural services.