With more than half the world’s population now living in urban areas, the Museum of London’s major free exhibition for 2017 asks how and why cities around the world are changing, and what urban communities are doing to improve city life.
The new exhibition, The City is Ours, sits at the heart of City Now City Future; a year-long season of exhibitions, creative commissions, large-scale public events, talks and debates aiming to tackle these very questions.
Courtesy of Museum of London
Originally created in Paris, this is the first exhibition at the Museum of London to be presented in both English and French. The exhibition is split into three sections including Urban Earth, Cities Under Pressure and Urban Futures which will be spread across three gallery spaces.
Urban Earth is a 12-minute infographics film presenting data from a host of major cities such as London, Sydney, Tokyo, New York, Shanghai, Dubai, Cairo and Sao Paolo, which visually discusses their issues such as population size, public transport networks, CO2 emissions, green spaces, wealth, access to health care and life expectancy.
Courtesy of Museum of London
In Cities Under Pressure visitors will be welcomed by a set of digital and physical interactives providing an overview of the risks, challenges and demands placed on global cities today such as the demanding increase in urban populations, the use of digital technology and pressures on transport, infrastructure and the environment.
Courtesy of Museum of London
Urban Futures will present the ideas and initiatives being developed around the world by governments, businesses, communities and individuals to tackle the various challenges that increase urbanisation to these cities and their inhabitants.
The exhibition is displayed through a series of short films with case studies from Medellin, once one of the most dangerous cities in the world but now a model for social cohesion through the introduction of a free cable car system, and Copenhagen, the greenest city in Europe which is building a sustainable future by introducing more cycle lanes than car lanes.
Courtesy of Museum of London
Foteini Aravani, Digital Curator at the Museum of London, said: 'The City is Ours examines the advantages, disadvantages, joys and frustrations of city life sparking debate and discussion about the future of city life for Londoners and people around the world.
'From looking at cities like Copenhagen and Medellin to Songdo and of course, London, there will be a call to action for every citizen to get inspired and to become more engaged in the city they live in.'
Courtesy of Museum of London
In addition to the original Parisian exhibition, the Museum of London has also selected 25 innovative projects taking place across London which all aim to improve city life for their local communities.
Information and images about these London initiatives will be mapped on an interactive table so visitors can learn more and get involved in an effort to improve city living.
For further information on The City is Ours exhibition click here.
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