Nature’s unsurpassed poetic, imaginative, intricate and glorious artistic ingenunity, the range of infinite design resources through which it is able to express its ideas and experimentation, are never captured visualized as magnificently as in astoundingly delicate designs Nature never seems to run out of, be shy about, or short on alternate renditions of its explorations, all in its perpetual strive for utter perfection.

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, it was 1985 in fact, the SIGGRAPH Electronic Theater thrilled me by selecting “Nick Brew”, my first ever CGI animated project, for its eminent annual screening of the best of computer animation from around the world. For me it was a foreword to the world of 3d computer animation.

I do admit, technologies utilized today by computer animation are simply breathtaking. Prospect such powers unveil are truly arousing. They made me itch for the chance to harness them, to will them to accomplish my imaginative feats, make my dreams come true. The insanely realistic modeling, texturing, shading, lighting and rendering are truly astonishing. Synthetic actors, their dynamics, the gestures and facial expressions are almost life like. Today it takes an experienced eye to differentiate a synthetic actor from a real live one. It is amazing. It's a genuine achievement. So what is wrong with this?

Not only are these amazing, and mind you, not rare at all, examples of Nature’s brainy creations truly stunningly impressive but they also bloom, in full color! Who can say this of our human brains? Maybe this is why we humans hide ours under our think sculls, while these awe-inspiring flowery creations so proudly expose theirs for all to admire?

Therefore, for the first time ever opening my mind to such a concept or possibility, and as a result of or reward for this broadmindedness, becoming so inspired by the amazing flowers initially discovered while in Japan, but their lasting impression reignited by that very garden I then entered while in Peru, I wish to pay homage to at least some of those flowers which I had the honor to make acquaintance with in my recent wanderings. For wherever I journey, whatever continent I land on, I find the Nature’s magnificence true to my expectations. Always glorious, forever astounding in its imaginary scope of artistry, and eternally adept at simply consistently and forever taking my breath away, it expands my mind, vision, perspective and gratefulness for its inspirational stimuli. In the same breath, it never seizes to take that certain air of human arrogance or “hot air” out of me, deflating my unjustified superiority while putting me in my place for who I am in contrast to its illustriousness, just another meek grain of sand in its infinite creative expanse and a never culminating, or running out of innovative ideas, breath of diverse possibilities.

Upon awakening I started to walk around the house within which I just became a visitor. Thus I came across this amazing sculptured scene contained within a small, simple box. As I swung open its flimsy doors, it unveiled to me an astoundingly fantastical realm hidden within its tiny confinements. Its thoughtfully choreographed scene bloomed with magical stories exploding with imagination and fantasy. It rightly took my breath away.

We, the so-called “advanced”, “civilized” world, have become empowered by amazing means of instant communication. Such make vital and enlightening information available to most of the world’s population. This power could, if we only chose to, embody a great weapon against tyranny, oppression and malicious censorship infecting and pervading our societies, eroding our basic freedoms without most of us even being aware of it.

Such instant communication can also act as a mighty generator of ideas, health fuel for brainstorming, a limitless platform for collaboration, exchanges and propagation of global connectivity, thus seeding mutual understanding and respect for those whom we would otherwise never connect with, instead left ignorant, unable to understand or appreciate.

And so it seems that humanity is loosing appreciation and benefits of simple and pure nothingness, of silence and calm, which come with not being under pressure to talk, to respond, to converse, react, but instead to think and feel, digest and reflect. Why?

Spending time, living in and discovering a foreign country is exciting and enlightening to me. But rich life requires contrasts. Without such, we cannot appreciate diversity of our world. In my belief, life without contrasts, good and bad, is dull, restrictive and narrow in exposure, perspectives, understanding, and open mindedness. All such are crucial to cultivating tolerance and respect for contrasting ways of live, thinking, ideas and beliefs.

And so, on this particular occasion returning to the “New World” proved to be more of a sobering experience than usual. As you read on, you will realize that it actually tested and contested my own tolerance and open mindedness.

Take a look at the astonishing developments, architectural, cultural, entertainment or city planning initiatives arising in China, under the very political and ideological system our “New World” had branded as the red peril (or whatever the lexis was), the foe of the “free” world (just in case you are confused, or do not know, that’s us), the Communism we had fought against for decades. And look now? Where would our “New World” be without their newly found affluence? Watch their booming economy, ambitious expansionism and clear aspirations for the very role we have played until now, the leadership and dominance of the world, the “Old” and the “New”.

However tempting, I shall refrain from spiraling into politics. This is not the topic of this blog. Nor am I endorsing communism. I have tasted its grip while growing up back in Eastern Europe, the “Old World”. I had my share, thank you. This reflection is devoted to the spirit of imagination, innovation, ideation and invention, and for the focus of this particular blog: how these precious values are reflected through the architectural realizations of the country called the “New World”. In my humble perception, something has gotten lost in translation. Are we slipping, losing it?

Being an outspoken individual I am often asked to project a vision of what I foresee in the near future, what lies ahead for media arts, or new media, or a creative palette of artistic expression? How do we anticipate the future and what will be the role for artistic individuals in its shaping? What kind of creative canvases will the future offer us? How will technology, sciences and their fusion with arts impact our creative powers? How will imagination fit into this brave new world?

I guaranty that there are as many answers to these questions as there are those individuals who are willing to risk sharing their answers to them. Hence I shall speak for myself and no one else. In recent years entertainment has become progressively more immersive and also, what is often referred to as 4D, aimed to impact us through all of our senses, make us experience it with our whole bodies. This is exciting! As interactivity is being injected into these experiences, the visitor, or the user, will progressively be empowered to play an active, creative role in own experience.

On one side of the infinite spectrum, imagination represents the Origin of it all. On the other side, it signifies the power to look into the future, which some gifted humans do have. In the case of the later, I am referring to the grand future in the concept and design of which human existence represent only a minuscule spec. Yet, by the power of our imagination and determination, we can now alter some of it. From our very origin humanity has been striving to unravel and unveil the grand design, the very scheme by which this vast Universe, and all within it, works, and the ingenuity by which it all begun, as well as where it is all evolving to. In this pursuit, as history has shown, we have wasted a lot of time seeing ourselves as unique, the center of it all, the ones around whom everything revolves. But now, that we have come to our senses, at least some of us, we have realized how insignificant we are in the vastness extending out there, and that our perception of reality might represent only one of numerous and parallel layers of realities shaping what is out there, and directly all around us. Humanity has posed for itself this vital assignment: to seek and discover the truth governing this complex puzzle, to cut through this Gordian knot. It is the power of imagination that will act as the very sward enabling us in distillation of the truth.