THE FANTASTIC LIBRARY OF BEASTS is the first immersive exhibition co-produced by Layers of Reality and the MEV, Museum of Medieval Art, exploring the relevance and popularity of medieval beasts.
THE FIRST IMMERSIVE JOURNEY INTO THE MEDIEVAL WORLD
THE FANTASTIC LIBRARY OF BEASTS broadens our perspective on the medieval world, a universe full of fantasy, epic tales and vibrant colors that stretched from the north to the south of Europe. Roots that explain why medieval beasts remain so present in today’s popular culture.
The FANTASTIC LIBRARY OF BEASTS experience features ten rooms, including a vast immersive hall of over 300 m² where visitors will encounter nine creatures from the Medieval Bestiary; a VR360° virtual reality room that transports audiences to the end of the world; an interactive sketch & post room where visitors can create their own medieval beast, animate it and project it, along with exhibition and interactive spaces that plunge the audience into the depths of the fantastic world of the medieval bestiary.
The immersive film at the heart of the experience devotes 20 minutes to an unprecedented projection showcasing nine epic medieval beasts, revealing them in a spectacular and innovative immersive format. Highlights include the peacock, the basilisk, the elephant, the centaur and the mermaid. In the VR360° virtual reality experience, a digital map invites visitors to discover extraordinary hybrid and fantastic beasts of the medieval world, such as the phoenix, the dragon, the harpy and the whale.
Who is involved?
The MEV, Museum of Medieval Art, acts as a bridge between the medieval past and the present. It preserves more than 29,000 works, with exceptional examples of Catalan Romanesque and Gothic painting and sculpture, offering insights into the art, life and thought of the Middle Ages. Its collections of goldsmithing, textiles, ironwork, glass and ceramics provide a comprehensive journey through the history of decorative arts in Catalonia. Founded in 1891, since 2002 it has been housed in a new building designed by Correa and Milà.
LAYERS OF REALITY is a pioneering studio in the creation of extended reality content, offering memorable, meaningful and transformative experiences. In 2019, it opened its flagship creation and exhibition center, IDEAL BARCELONA; in March 2022, it launched MAD (Madrid Artes Digitales) at Matadero Madrid together with SOM PRODUCE and STARDUST INTERNACIONAL; and in March 2024, it inaugurated BOMBAS GENS, Digital Arts Center in Valencia.
