Have you
ever been chased by your own shadow while walking the streets of Second life?
Have you ever seen your own reflection mirrored in a window?
In a world where
all the content is created by its residents, seeing the reflection of our minds
and souls mirrored in many little things is easier than it seems at first
glance. Join us and embark on a timeless journey where creativity reigns.
Although it is virtually impossible
to find shadows and reflections in this 3D reality where mirrors are purely
decorative and shadows are no more than modeled prims, Second life is a giant
mirror that reflects a borderless world of imagination, creativity, emotion and
above all, that reflects an abundance of different expressions of cultural
heritage.
I arrive at the Museum Island and I
am immediately conquered by the colorful scenery as my eyes roam the site for
the first time. Here I have the privilege of meeting Carlolello Zapatero, the
only builder in this land, a graphic designer with an archeological background
and with an infectious passion for his art.
After a warm and friendly welcome,
and before I could verbalize my questions, Carlolello begins to explain how the
museum was born and the history behind each piece while touring me around the
twenty one replicas of the world's richest architectural and historical
landmarks represented here just a couple of steps away from each other. His
initial idea was to have an archeological land so he took a piece of paper and
started drawing the design of this land, a city that would represent
all the cultures of the Mediterranean, from Italy to Spain, France, and Egypt,
Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, the Babylonian cultures.
I could testify that the essence of
the intangible Mediterranean culture was present in the walking paths I
scoured, in the bridges and stairs, in every corner and, above all, in all
these monuments that are replicas of the original monuments before being subject
to destruction (fruit of archeological research) and in the artistry with which
they were executed. Untouched from time and wars, these give us a unique
opportunity to see and know more about our fantastic legacy from the past
generations that have gifted us the shadows and reflections of their cultures
and their lives and, therefore, see some of those shadows and reflections as
our own.
Carlolello carries all these twenty
one monuments in his arms, they are his children as he exclaimed in a tone of
pride. He deserves the highest praises for his notable achievement and
creativity. As he strides from a monument to the other, I follow him with my
eyes glued to the detail and technique. The light used as if in its natural
environment, the shadows to highlight the contours and shapes, the textures of
his own creation that reach perfection, the creation of watercolor paintings to
replace the very much damaged original paintings and the interactivity found in
the Tomb of Nefertiti where we find an audio translation of the various
hieroglyphs displayed on the walls.
As we reach the end of this journey
I am offered a bonus round by boat around the island, giving me the opportunity
to have a last look at it. You will not find shops or parties here;
instead you will find yourself through the shadows and reflections of the past
and of a passionate man who put his soul, his sweat and tears into every single
prim. "This land is yours", says Carlolello as I wave goodbye, for
now.
IM Carlolello Zapatero for more information
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That sounds really interesting, great article :) I will definitely visit that island!!!
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