The 20th century defined cinema as an art form—analogue, fixed, with a beginning and an inevitable end. In the 21st century, however, art moves as an interactive medium. This shift was voiced by a designer during the MetartGenX showcase. The virtual reality space, built by a team from the Generation X expert shop and connected to the electronic music group Aviador Dro, aims to foster cultural and artistic exchange in a globally accessible virtual environment, a place some describe as reachable even from the International Space Station.
Speaking about the spirit behind the project, the goal was to revive the influence of DRO, which inspired many new wave acts and helped launch an independent record label. One of Aviador Dro’s team members described the coming technological horizon as a real shift: artificial intelligence will be a prevailing paradigm, and artists should learn to work with it. The idea goes beyond theory; Carballar and his colleagues are already using these tools within MetartGenX to enhance their work.
Without replacing human creativity, AI is expected to reformulate promotional materials—brochures, posters, photos, and album art—created throughout Aviador Dro’s career. The project will also feature AI-generated visuals, sequences, manifestos, and performances during the 45th anniversary concert, scheduled at the Ochoymedio venue in Madrid on January 27.
Meeting point
The term metaverse, first popularized in science fiction and later adopted to describe immersive three-dimensional spaces where people interact as animated avatars, frames MetartGenX. The platform seeks to be a gathering place for curious minds, comic book fans, and artists like Montxo Algora, Aviador Dro, Mauro Entrialgo, and Miguel Ángel Martín, among others.
Each creator designed a personal space within MetartGenX to reflect their unique tastes and graphic sensibilities. Aviador Dro’s area resembles a warehouse of merchandise and discs, while Algora presents an art gallery with some of his recording work and album covers, including pieces like Infinitely feminine of La Mode and Frequency Selector. Martín offers a minimalist, pristine apartment as often seen in his comics, and Entrialgo inhabits a planetary station with his music projects Esteban Light and Tyrexitone.
In MetartGenX, visitors can purchase works by these creators, but the core aim is to create a meeting place. Events are hosted regularly, with authors sharing insights into their projects with followers who attend in person or via the virtual world.
Illusion and attention
During the MetartGenX presentation, Mauro Entrialgo emphasized the importance of looking at how new projects compare to earlier efforts that sometimes stalled, such as early experiments with virtual worlds. While the desktop version is accessible on any computer, enjoying the immersive experience through virtual reality headsets remains more spectacular, though they can be costly.
As cinema’s evolution shows, progress is not always linear. Interactive art follows the same pattern; breakthroughs may come in fits and starts. A few years ago, few expected personal headsets at home, or family members sharing the same device. Today, mobile devices unlock new possibilities, making immersive tech, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality more accessible. In the near future, these technologies could become deeply integrated into daily life.
With this momentum, the Gen X team plans to expand MetartGenX in the months ahead. Future efforts include adding more rooms and worlds, inviting new writers, and introducing additional female creators into the project. One participant, a Madrid photographer, Ouka Lele, was mentioned as part of the broader story, though not all plans reached completion.