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The looking glass at Rio’s Marine Aquarium blurs all boundaries between perception and reality, and a mesmerizing world of reflections awaits visitors’ exploration. AquaRio’s latest exhibition, Mar de Espelhos (Mirror Ocean), is an immersive journey that weaves together the magic of mirrors and the majesty of the natural world, creating a rich tapestry of self and nature. This innovative spectacle captures viewers’ curiosity, inviting them on a journey of self-discovery at the heart of Brazil’s vibrant marine life.

A woman visits the exhibition “Mar de Espelhos” (Mirror Ocean) which is a set of rooms with projections and mirrors showing visitors in multiplicity and the natural environment at the Marine Aquarium of Rio de Janeiro (AquaRio) in Rio de Janeiro Brazil on June 13 2023.
Photo credit : Mauro Pimentel / AFP

At the Marine Aquarium of Rio de Janeiro, colloquially known as AquaRio, a riveting spectacle unfolds. The exhibition, aptly titled Mar de Espelhos (Mirror Ocean), invites visitors to dive headfirst into a stunning visual labyrinth where reality intertwines with illusion.

A woman visits the exhibition “Mar de Espelhos” (Mirror Ocean) which is a set of rooms with projections and mirrors showing visitors in multiplicity and the natural environment at the Marine Aquarium of Rio de Janeiro (AquaRio) in Rio de Janeiro Brazil on June 13 2023.
Photo credit : Mauro Pimentel / AFP

Constructed with a meticulous arrangement of mirrors and projections, the exhibit forms a dazzling spectacle that transcends the boundaries of traditional visual art. Visitors find themselves lost in an infinite prism of reflection, their own images bouncing back at them from every angle presenting a complex tapestry of human multiplicities.

A couple visit the exhibition “Mar de Espelhos” (Mirror Ocean) which is a set of rooms with projections and mirrors showing visitors in multiplicity and the natural environment at the Marine Aquarium of Rio de Janeiro (AquaRio) in Rio de Janeiro Brazil on June 13 2023.
Photo credit : Mauro Pimentel / AFP

In contrast to those mirrors, advanced projection technology immerses visitors in diverse panoramas of our planet’s natural environments. The sea comes alive as enchanting marine scenes are projected across the exhibit’s surfaces transforming the space into a mesmerizing undersea journey. Viewers find themselves at the heart of a vibrant coral reef with tropical fish swinging playfully around them and awe-inspiring sea creatures emerging from ethereal depths.

A child visits the exhibition “Mar de Espelhos” (Mirror Ocean) which is a set of rooms with projections and mirrors showing visitors in multiplicity and the natural environment at the Marine Aquarium of Rio de Janeiro (AquaRio) in Rio de Janeiro Brazil on June 13 2023.
Photo credit : Mauro Pimentel / AFP

This ingenious interplay of mirrors and projections functions as a powerful metaphor drawing attention to the juxtaposition of human existence with the natural world’s profundity and complexity. The result is a visually arresting and philosophically stimulating exploration of self and nature.

A woman visits the exhibition “Mar de Espelhos” (Mirror Ocean) which is a set of rooms with projections and mirrors showing visitors in multiplicity and the natural environment at the Marine Aquarium of Rio de Janeiro (AquaRio) in Rio de Janeiro Brazil on June 13 2023.
Photo credit : Mauro Pimentel / AFP

The Mar de Espelhos exhibition serves as more than a mere display; it is a transformative voyage through self-reflection and natural beauty. This immersive experience invites visitors to navigate throughout the intricate pathways of their own reflections offering a fresh and exciting perspective to the symbiotic relationship between humankind and the natural world.

A man visits the exhibition “Mar de Espelhos” (Mirror Ocean) which is a set of rooms with projections and mirrors showing visitors in multiplicity and the natural environment at the Marine Aquarium of Rio de Janeiro (AquaRio) in Rio de Janeiro Brazil on June 13 2023.
Photo credit : Mauro Pimentel / AFP

With AFP

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