On the verge of its 10th anniversary, Museum of Tomorrow debuts “Where Are We?” hall with immersive video on post-normal times.
First phase of main exhibition update
Rio de Janeiro’s Museum of Tomorrow has begun the renewal of its main exhibition, “From the Cosmos to Us”. The first phase opens to the public this Friday, the 12th, replacing the former “Anthropocene” area with the new hall “Where Are We?”.
The revamped space features a new immersive video installation directed by Estevão Ciavatta Pantoja. In this way, the museum offers a fresh, sensorial perspective on the present time and its challenges.
The project coincides with the countdown to the museum’s 10th anniversary, celebrated in December. The update reinforces the institution’s commitment to keeping its content dynamic and aligned with current debates.
Reflecting on “post-normal times”
According to curator Fabio Scarano, the video is based on the philosophical argument that we live in a post-normal time. This period separates a known normal from another, still unknown, that is yet to come.
These post-normal times are characterized by complexity, contradiction and chaos, Scarano explains. Thus, the new hall invites visitors to acknowledge uncertainty and reflect on humanity’s role in this scenario.
“Creating new content for the ‘Where Are We?’ hall was a huge challenge, matching the complexity of the life we are living today,” says director Estevão Ciavatta, highlighting the ambition behind the artistic proposal.
New content in the Caverns space
In the Caverns area, the curatorial team formed by Fabio Scarano, Liana Brazil and Luiz Alberto Oliveira introduced new content. The visual presentation was developed by the design studio Celso Longo + Daniel Trench.
“Our mission is to rethink the museum experience so that each person feels part of a living, ever-changing narrative,” says Liana Brazil, creative director at SuperUber. Each space, she adds, invites discovery and dialogue.
For Luiz Alberto Oliveira, the core concept of the main exhibition is to show that human actions now have planetary reach and long-lasting consequences. Therefore, he considers it natural that the former Anthropocene sector is the first to undergo a content and design update.
Fluid journey and continuous process
The new “Where Are We?” hall remains consistent with the other sections of the main exhibition, ensuring a fluid journey for visitors. The narrative continues to connect the planet, humanity and shared futures.
With high expectations regarding public reception, the Museum of Tomorrow plans to launch a visitor feedback survey soon. The goal is to better understand each person’s experience in the revamped space.
The update of “From the Cosmos to Us” is a continuous process, with other halls scheduled for renewal over the next two years. These changes will be carried out with support from the Rio de Janeiro City Hall.
Anniversary month and new ocean exhibition
December is also a month of celebration and new projects at the Museum of Tomorrow. In addition to renewing its main exhibition, the institution debuts the original show “Ocean – The World Is an Archipelago”.
The exhibition opens on 17 December, the exact date of the museum’s anniversary. On that day, admission will be free for all visitors, with support from the museum’s institutional partners.
The initiative is offered by Banco Santander Brasil, Shell, Vale, Motiva, IBM, TAG and Engie, among other partners and sponsors. As a result, the public will be able to celebrate the museum’s 10 years with expanded programming.
About the Museum of Tomorrow
The Museum of Tomorrow is managed by the Instituto de Desenvolvimento e Gestão (idg). The project is an initiative of the Rio de Janeiro City Hall, developed in partnership with the Roberto Marinho Foundation, linked to Grupo Globo.
A successful example of cooperation between the public and private sectors, the museum is supported by the Federal Cultural Incentive Law (Lei Rouanet). It has Banco Santander Brasil as master sponsor and Shell, Vale and Motiva as institutional supporters.
The institution also counts on IBM and TAG as sponsors, Globo as strategic partner and co-sponsorship from Águas do Rio and Heineken. It receives additional support from Bloomberg, Engie, B3, Rede D’or, White Martins, EGTC, Renner, Granado, Mattos Filho, TechnipFMC, Caterpillar, EMS and Sulamérica.
Through the Municipal Cultural Incentive Law, the Museum of Tomorrow is supported by Accenture and Fitch Ratings. Media partners include Rádio Mix, NovaParadiso, Revista Piauí, JB FM, Canal Curta ON and Folha de S.Paulo.
About idg
For more than 20 years, idg has worked in the management and development of cultural, environmental and educational projects. The institute combines knowledge, innovation and boldness to bring ideas to life and tell stories that inspire reflection.
Guided by the purpose of “hoping for possible futures”, idg manages the Museum of Tomorrow and the Botanical Garden Museum in Rio de Janeiro. In São Paulo, it is responsible for the Museu das Favelas and the CultSP PRO program.
The organization also manages the Atlantic Forest Fund in Rio de Janeiro and inaugurated the Museu das Amazônias in Belém. In this way, it consolidates a national presence in projects with social, environmental and cultural impact.
