I'm pleased to announce that Episode 0 of The World's Fair Podcast is now live.
In Episode 0, John McGregor of Foundation Expo 88 and I discuss world's fairs in general, the nomenclature, and the how world's fairs are still relevant.
The audio isn't that great yet (which is why this is episode "zero"), but subsequent episodes should sound much better.
To subscribe via iTunes, got to:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=346502335
Alternatively, you can listen to the episode through your web browser at:
http://www.WorldsFairPodcast.com/
I'd love to hear what people think. Please let me know what you'd like to hear in the future. In future episodes, we'll be interviewing both fans and professionals involved in expos in the past and future.
Showing posts with label Expo 98. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Expo 98. Show all posts
14 December 2009
10 December 2009
Exhibits About Future Expos
A conversation over on WorldsFairCommunity.org made me think about exhibits about future expos at an existing expo.
I remember seeing an exhibit about Expo 85 near the exit of the Japan Pavilion at the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville. As a high school student, I so wished I could afford the $1985.00 for their cheapest travel package. I believe they also had an ad in the guidebook, something I've seen in other guidebooks.
At the 1984 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, Canada devoted a lot of space to Expo 86. I remember getting my first Expo 86 souvenir pins there in New Orleans.
The Germany Pavilion at Expo 98 in Lisbon had a huge section about Expo 2000 including a motion simulator ride where you went underwater in Lisbon and then surfaced and flew over the Expo 2000 site in Hannover.
Even though China hadn't won Expo 2010 yet, the China Pavilion at Expo 2000 promoted its bid for Shanghai. 2010 seems so far in the future back then.
Not surprisingly, the China Pavilion at Expo 2005 devoted a lot of space to promoting Expo 2010. They also showed a large film in their pavilion at Expo 2008.
At that same expo, next door the Korean Pavilion promoted its bid for Expo 2012, which it would end up winning.
Korea promoted Expo 2012 at Expo 2008 with an exhibit and a host that described the plans to guests. She actually spent a lot of time talking to me (in English) about the history of expos. Italy also promoted Expo 2015 at their Expo 2008 pavilion.
Another side topic to this would be Olympics being promoted in pavilions.
In these photos, Paris promoted their 1992 Olympic bid at Expo 86 and Italy promoted the 2008 Winter Olympics in Torino.
Anyone else remember any others?
I remember seeing an exhibit about Expo 85 near the exit of the Japan Pavilion at the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville. As a high school student, I so wished I could afford the $1985.00 for their cheapest travel package. I believe they also had an ad in the guidebook, something I've seen in other guidebooks.
At the 1984 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, Canada devoted a lot of space to Expo 86. I remember getting my first Expo 86 souvenir pins there in New Orleans.
The Germany Pavilion at Expo 98 in Lisbon had a huge section about Expo 2000 including a motion simulator ride where you went underwater in Lisbon and then surfaced and flew over the Expo 2000 site in Hannover.
Even though China hadn't won Expo 2010 yet, the China Pavilion at Expo 2000 promoted its bid for Shanghai. 2010 seems so far in the future back then.
Not surprisingly, the China Pavilion at Expo 2005 devoted a lot of space to promoting Expo 2010. They also showed a large film in their pavilion at Expo 2008.
At that same expo, next door the Korean Pavilion promoted its bid for Expo 2012, which it would end up winning.
Korea promoted Expo 2012 at Expo 2008 with an exhibit and a host that described the plans to guests. She actually spent a lot of time talking to me (in English) about the history of expos. Italy also promoted Expo 2015 at their Expo 2008 pavilion.
Another side topic to this would be Olympics being promoted in pavilions.
In these photos, Paris promoted their 1992 Olympic bid at Expo 86 and Italy promoted the 2008 Winter Olympics in Torino.
Anyone else remember any others?
25 June 2008
Expo 2008, Day 3
On Day 3, I visited a few more national pavilions, the rest of the Spanish regional pavilions, and some of the theme pavilions.
I tried to visit the theme structure, the Water Tower (or Tower of Water), but unfortunately, it was closed for some reason. Unfortunately, my Spanish and the volunteers' English wasn't good enough to find out why. They suggested I try back later on. The tower was particularly striking at sunset, however.
To my eyes, though, I would have liked to have seen something a bit more iconic. The tower, from the outside at least, looks too much like many office towers I've seen.
Galicia's pavilion was a good example of a small, simple pavilion that really works. There wasn't much to their exhibit as it was one where people simply wandered in and out, but the video installation was striking enough that I noticed many guests lingered for quite a while. It was more artistic and abstract that a simple video screen. Upon further inspection, I discovered each colored rectangle was actually the bottom of a plastic food dish filled with water and with red, green, and blue LED's inside. I took some more photos as well as video of this exhibit which I'll be posting later.
It was the Spain National Day of Honor at the site, so the Spanish Pavilion was closed. Presumably this was because of dignitaries. The site is certainly not lacking for volunteers in their iconic outfits.
Fans of Expo 2005's Kiccoro and Morizzo will be happy to see them teamed up with Expo 2008's Fluvi outside the Japan Pavilion.
The themed areas were connected with this wonderful sunshade that seemed to visually pull together the disparate pavilions. There were plenty of nice benches, too. However, it would have been nice if they'd put the benches under the shade.
The Cities of Water Pavilion proves that you don't necessarily need new technology to create an effective exhibit. I'll speak later of the Water theme, but this pavilion exposed some of the problems with water as a theme. The issues are far more complex than can really be dealt in pavilions such as this and some of the inconsistencies are mostly unaddressed. Dams can convert water into power lessening our dependence on oil, but it can create other environmental problems.
Ten years ago at Lisbon's Expo 98, I noticed that many pavilions were using class floors so that you seemingly hovered over sand, water, or other materials. It seems like a common design choice this year is a white plastic flooring that I would imagine holds up to traffic pretty well and is certainly different from what you see in everyday life. Here's how it looked at the Sweden Pavilion. Carpet is harder to photograph than you might imagine.
...and now I'm off to Day 4!
I tried to visit the theme structure, the Water Tower (or Tower of Water), but unfortunately, it was closed for some reason. Unfortunately, my Spanish and the volunteers' English wasn't good enough to find out why. They suggested I try back later on. The tower was particularly striking at sunset, however.
To my eyes, though, I would have liked to have seen something a bit more iconic. The tower, from the outside at least, looks too much like many office towers I've seen.
Galicia's pavilion was a good example of a small, simple pavilion that really works. There wasn't much to their exhibit as it was one where people simply wandered in and out, but the video installation was striking enough that I noticed many guests lingered for quite a while. It was more artistic and abstract that a simple video screen. Upon further inspection, I discovered each colored rectangle was actually the bottom of a plastic food dish filled with water and with red, green, and blue LED's inside. I took some more photos as well as video of this exhibit which I'll be posting later.
It was the Spain National Day of Honor at the site, so the Spanish Pavilion was closed. Presumably this was because of dignitaries. The site is certainly not lacking for volunteers in their iconic outfits.
Fans of Expo 2005's Kiccoro and Morizzo will be happy to see them teamed up with Expo 2008's Fluvi outside the Japan Pavilion.
The themed areas were connected with this wonderful sunshade that seemed to visually pull together the disparate pavilions. There were plenty of nice benches, too. However, it would have been nice if they'd put the benches under the shade.
The Cities of Water Pavilion proves that you don't necessarily need new technology to create an effective exhibit. I'll speak later of the Water theme, but this pavilion exposed some of the problems with water as a theme. The issues are far more complex than can really be dealt in pavilions such as this and some of the inconsistencies are mostly unaddressed. Dams can convert water into power lessening our dependence on oil, but it can create other environmental problems.
Ten years ago at Lisbon's Expo 98, I noticed that many pavilions were using class floors so that you seemingly hovered over sand, water, or other materials. It seems like a common design choice this year is a white plastic flooring that I would imagine holds up to traffic pretty well and is certainly different from what you see in everyday life. Here's how it looked at the Sweden Pavilion. Carpet is harder to photograph than you might imagine.
...and now I'm off to Day 4!
02 November 2007
Small Moments - Expo 98 Philippines Pavilion
We usually think of world's fairs as collections of large grandiose events, but talking with colleagues recently, I found myself reminiscing about some of the smaller, impromptu interactions I've had at various pavilions.
I've discovered, when visiting world's fairs in countries where the primary language isn't English, that English speakers get noticed, particularly since many pavilion hosts are perhaps more familiar with English than they are with the local language.
I suspect this was the case when we visited the Philippines Pavilion at Expo 98 in Lisbon, Portugal. Waiting to enter, a staff member approached us asking where we were from. I replied "San Francisco," knowing that I usually get a very positive response. Everyone loves San Francisco, after all.
Her eyes lit up and she responded that she'd "always wanted to visit... Daly City!" This was the first time I've ever gotten this particular reaction, but understandable since Daly City is known for it's large Filipino population.
Daly City is one of the few communities in the United States with a population mostly of Asian descent, but most San Franciscans think of it as an inner suburb with lots of free parking and chain stores.
In many ways, it was a wonderful reminder that living in multi-cultural city like San Francisco can be like living in a world's fair itself.
I've discovered, when visiting world's fairs in countries where the primary language isn't English, that English speakers get noticed, particularly since many pavilion hosts are perhaps more familiar with English than they are with the local language.
I suspect this was the case when we visited the Philippines Pavilion at Expo 98 in Lisbon, Portugal. Waiting to enter, a staff member approached us asking where we were from. I replied "San Francisco," knowing that I usually get a very positive response. Everyone loves San Francisco, after all.
Her eyes lit up and she responded that she'd "always wanted to visit... Daly City!" This was the first time I've ever gotten this particular reaction, but understandable since Daly City is known for it's large Filipino population.
Daly City is one of the few communities in the United States with a population mostly of Asian descent, but most San Franciscans think of it as an inner suburb with lots of free parking and chain stores.
In many ways, it was a wonderful reminder that living in multi-cultural city like San Francisco can be like living in a world's fair itself.
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