Alice in Wonderland, a Precursor to Deep Fakes

I went to the Botanical Garden in Bucharest for an exhibition that promised to spotlight the universe of the book "Alice in Wonderland".

Beyond the Words

Each step absorbed me into an immersive experience full of lights, sounds and reflections that reminded me the Lewis Carroll's reality of a twisted mind.

And the parallelism with today's world of deep fakes.

The book "Alice in Wonderland" was published in 1865 and became known for imagining an unprecedented and seemingly meaningless, but deeply symbolic story.

In a way, this classic work of literature was an unexpected precursor to contemporary deep fake technology.

Allow me to explain: In his book, Carroll explores the idea of fluid identity, the transformation and distortion of reality, thus anticipating the central theme of modern deep fakes - the digital manipulation of reality.

In the Botanical Garden Park in Bucharest, I discovered a captivating interpretation of this fantastic world.

Delicate lights were cast on the still water of a lake, creating a hypnotic dance of reflections. What was a fake light and what was a real one?

Inevitably, I thought about how this image evoked the passages in the book where Alice travels on a mysterious river in a world where reality is ever-changing. And I also wondered: isn't it true that after the story of Covid-19, we felt this too?

Beyond the garden's conservatory walls, projected light figures merged with the magical mirrors of the glass structure, bringing to life the characters from the book, in spectacular fashion. Interestingly, in the first few lines, many figures were actually multiplying, recreating the confusing illusion of Alice's journey through the nebulous multitude of characters. Once we advanced, each figure became unique, but being reflected in discrete mirrors, it emphasized the idea of identity and individuality confused among so many copies of it.

There is no fake without a convincing Scenographer

Symphonic music, inspired by Carroll's story, filled the air with magical notes. Clear and cheerful sounds alternated with mysterious and melancholy ones, creating a soundtrack that took your soul on an emotional journey.

This music was certainly another element that tied the immersive experience to its literary origins, emphasizing the distinct emotions and atmosphere of the story.

A memorable moment was entering a multicolored tunnel, where the light pulsed in rhythm with my breathing. Color danced around me, captivating my senses and bringing to life the most intense passages of Alice's journey through the mirror world. This tunnel tired me terribly.

Then I entered another one, this time dominated by warm and cool whites in soothing contrast.

So maybe they wanted to reflect the evolution of the main character in her search for balance and identity in a world full of contradictions.

Why was it worth the visit?

I recommend this exhibition as one of the most successful I have seen so far.

No, it's not just a visual thing, but a captivating journey into the depths of human imagination 150 years ago.

The immersive experience brought to life not only the characters and the story, but also the philosophical spirit of the book, and Lewis Carroll's vision, which continues to be relevant today.

In a surprising way, Alice in Wonderland turns out to be a precursor book to modern technology, anticipating a world where reality can be distorted and identity can be manipulated.

Main takeaways

I left the garden and re-entered my life in the polluted city where I live with an enriched perspective on the relationship between art, literature and tech. And I reached some clarity.

This exhibition has succeeded in creating a space where Carroll's words come to life and the line between fact and fiction becomes fluid.

It was an experience that reminded me that the power of the stories of yesteryear is also found in contemporary technological innovations, as is the phenomenon of deep fake in today's digital world.