THE metaverse, although perceived as virtual by many, provided Italian artist Elisa Laraia with a remarkable opportunity to explore China. She brought seven pieces of art to the three-day 11th China (Wuhu) Popularized Science Products Exposition in East China’s Anhui Province that concluded Monday. The artworks integrate cutting-edge concepts, such as the metaverse, artificial intelligence and digital avatars, with realistic topics such as environmental pollution and social resources, leading viewers to ponder how technological advancements could transform life and address current societal challenges. Spanning an impressive exhibition area of 36,000 square meters, this event offered audiences a fresh perspective on science and technology. Through its panoramic virtual exhibition hall and interactive exhibits, visitors were able to delve into the captivating realm of innovation. The exposition featured scientific and technological achievements in fields such as quantum information, nuclear fusion energy, deep-space exploration, AI foundation models, and, of course, the metaverse. For Laraia, the event presented a rare and invaluable opportunity to gain an understanding of the metaverse concept and China’s progress in this emerging domain. In her homeland Italy, Laraia is a professor at the School of Sculpture in the Naples Academy of Fine Arts and director of LAP Laboratorio Permanente di Arte Pubblica — a public art workshop. One of her Chinese students serves as LAP’s Chinese liaison and invited her to attend the exhibition in Wuhu. Laraia embraced this opportunity to witness China with her own eyes, bringing along a series of artworks created by seven artists from her university. During her trip to Wuhu, Laraia delivered a speech on the theme of the metaverse and art education, participated in a conference and attended an art competition. “Many of the works in the competition focus on improving the experience of the audience, allowing them to better appreciate the works of art,” she said. “The technologies in the exhibition also allow people to envision the future.” She added that exploring the impact of technology and art on society has always been her focus, and attending the exhibition has provided inspiration for her teaching. This August, China issued a three-year action plan to promote the development of its metaverse industry, calling for breakthroughs in related technologies, industries and applications. As her next stop, Laraia plans to go to Shanghai, where she will exchange with artists with similar interest in technologies. She is currently working on a metaverse project called LAP, which aims to build a digital city where people can reside and interact with each other in the form of avatars. “I hope to invite more Chinese artists to join the LAP project, and also look forward to sharing my ideas with those in the Chinese art circle,” she said. (Xinhua) | 