The Lumisphere has opened in Brazil!
Visions2030 began as a dream—well, an insight, really—about the power of imagination. Ever since we stepped into the shaping and sharing of that dream, it’s manifested and re-manifested in kaleidoscopic forms, evolving with the spirit of inspiration and the contributions of our collaborators.
The Museum of Tomorrow (Museu do Amanhã) stands on the vast expanse of Guanabara Bay, a panorama with mythic connotations dating back to Brazil’s origins. A place of astonishing inspiration, the white latticework of Santiago Calatrava’s up-soaring futurist architecture seems to aim toward the blue heavens. The Lumisphere Experience, created almost exactly two years ago, looks tailor-made for this plaza with its three glistening white domes nestled next to the Museum’s entrance. Visions2030 believes in the power of envisioning, and it’s as if we envisioned the Lumisphere here.
The Museum, which began as a science museum, focuses on the future—and is dedicated to sustainability. Similarly, the Lumisphere invites people to imagine their ideal eco-future; to enter into a dream space, to free themselves from the seductive habits of catastrophizing, and instead reach inside themselves and find the future that they—and they alone—would like to head toward. Rather than a goal, we believe that having a vision is a much more powerful motivator—and the Lumisphere also paves a road to turn those impulses into reality.
Our three-dome immersive innovation debuted at Earth Edition: A Festival of Eco-Consciousness in Los Angeles in fall 2023. And that itself was a dream come to life. We had the idea of doing a major event exploring “consciousness”; CalArts, one of our founding partners, invited us to stage it institute-wide. We believe there are different aspects of consciousness—mind/body, for example, and “altered states.” Technology itself changes our consciousness daily. We decided to focus in on what it might mean to “think like the Earth.” Our team, wildly diverse in background, age, and skill, came together around that shared mission: to explore eco-consciousness.
If “what you hold in your consciousness you attract,” consider the effect of dystopian imaginings. Rarely are we asked: “What is the world you want to create?”
At Earth Edition, the Lumisphere was the crown jewel of a gathering of activations that sought to fill consciousness with alternatives to images of forest fires and melting icebergs. We had an EcoExpo of innovations, an indigenous deep knowledge circle, solutions-oriented eco-art, and collaborations and events with some of the greatest minds working on the future.
In Dome 2, Lumisphere visitors lie back and experience a sound-and-light display presenting them with possibilities of ideal eco-futures — to spark their imaginations.
The Lumisphere was created with Minds Over Matter, a design firm noted for creating towering projections and immersive environments. The idea was to create a sense of spectacle and awe while carving out a journey of the psyche, reminiscent of a theme-park ride, but one that also offered the possibility of a ride into a dream space and touch our deepest desires. And then to use AI to help people to turn those visions into images. Who knew whether it would work or not?
At CalArts people were deeply moved and inspired by the experience. They were particularly delighted by the part of the journey in the third dome where they were able to translate visions into a huge LED image, displayed next to those of others. But also with the magic of touching the utopias they have within themselves.
We suspected it was only the beginning of the Lumisphere’s story, and, as Elizabeth Thompson pointed out, gathering these visions allows us to make a “Census of the Future.” We thought we would take it on the road.
Fabio Scarano, the Museum of Tomorrow’s Chief Curator, holds the UNESCO Futures Literacy Chair, and himself has written about “pragmatic utopias” and the power of the imagination. He is steering the Museum away from being a pure science museum to one involving culture—taking into account what people think about the future, beyond lifestyle innovations or the latest tech. Our presence is particularly significant as the United Nation’s international climate conference, COP 30, is being held in the Amazon in Belém, Brazil this year— a gathering that’s being called the most important COP in history. To serve this event, the Museum has been hosting a series of warm-up events called ESQUENTA COP—including exhibitions, education programs, workshops, and other community engagement activities.
The Museum of Tomorrow signals an engagement on a global level, emblematic of everything we hope to do in our work going forward. And given the Museum’s average of 100,000 visitors per month, this free-to-the-public installation enables us to reach others on a wider scale than ever before.
It is the first stop on our global tour. We hope to reach one billion people over the next five years, to ask them, “What do you want the future to look like?”
In the years since we first launched Visions2030, our world has continued to change and evolve. It is wonderful to see people go through the Lumisphere Experience and start to consider other possibilities, even to really feel some joy. As tumultuous as these times are, we are moving forward, collectively dreaming with a momentum we never could have imagined. As always, we’re so grateful to be on this journey with you. Keep dreaming. We need each other now more than ever.
See you in Rio!
Yours, Visions2030
The Lumisphere Experience—as seen by a Minds over Matter drone— before its opening. It has enjoyed capacity crowds since October 2nd
Get Involved
There are many ways to join in our journey to Brazil! Of course we hope you can come visit us in Rio — and spread the word!
The Inhotim Institute, a contemporary art center and botanical garden, home to 23 galleries and pavilions and 4,300 rare plant species.
Notably, we have a very special trip planned for those who want an exclusive peek backstage at the Lumisphere, the Museum, and Rio & São Paulo’s art scenes—with an optional extension to the Inhotim Institute, the largest open-air museum in the world.
The trip, which will take place November 9th–17th, will include meetings with artists and collectors, visits to leading institutions at the forefront of dialogue between art and ecology, and access to the 36th São Paulo Biennial and the newly expanded MASP (Museum of Art of São Paulo)—as well as to a selection of private collections and studios. The journey concludes near Belo Horizonte at Inhotim, one of the world’s most important open-air museums, where monumental contemporary art meets lush botanical gardens.
It’s a rare opportunity to engage with Brazilian artistic production in its full complexity. More than a sequence of visits, this is a living itinerary that emphasizes dialogue, encounter, and the joy of being together. To confirm your interest, please contact Yona Backer, Director, Collaborations & Programs (yona@thirdstreaming.com). Space is limited, so we kindly ask for your confirmation as soon as possible. We’d love to share this celebration with you!
And let us know if you want to be a Dream Builder! For $25, we’ll send you stickers to circulate reading: “What do you want the future to look like?”
We’d be incredibly grateful for any support, whether that through individual or organizational gifts, or spreading the word to fellow dreamers.
