14 Comments

If not a state, who do you think is in a position to fund this or organize crowdfunding? Elon musk is the first person to come to my mind

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Feb 20, 2021Liked by Anton Howes

La Biennale di Venezia is a good case study in plastic arts, performance arts and architecture. Has a wonderful history, i recommend you look into it to draw meaningful parallels and differences.

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You didn't mention the 2000 exhibition at the Millennium Dome. Did you overlook it or would you argue that wasn't relevant to your argument?

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/dec/01/millennium-dome-20-years-on-new-labour

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I’ve worked for years in the comedy world and I think I can pinpoint the decade when ironic jokes started to proliferate about the World’s Fair in NY among stand ups and sketch artists... 1975. Even as a science geek and a lover of the history of invention, I remember laughing at references to “The Pavilion of Progress”. My small point is we ought to be aware of naming/overselling when we do the next Exhibition.

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I started Maker Faire in 2006 in the SF Bay Area. Before the pandemic, we had Maker Faire produced in 48 countries. I saw it as a People's Worlds Fair, which like a county fair was something that anyone could participate in and the public could enjoy. It was more personal than industrial, yet it did have its commercial side. I was happy that we have been able to showcase makers of many different kinds of applications of technology and creativity. Our goal has been to invite people to see themselves as makers who can develop their ideas and make something real and useful or expressive. I tended to not use the word invention because most people think it is something only a few people choose to do. I like the word maker because it could mean many things.

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I think 19c machines were relatively easy to understand. Modern technological processes are too complex to be interesting to the general public. And the progress nowdays is more about IT which doesnt require a pavillion to demonstrate.

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Dec 22, 2022Liked by Anton Howes

Ah, speaking of movies, *Eiffel* (2021) might be of interest to you (if only half of it).

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