Image: Sainsbury Centre, London ; Mary Evans Pictures Library 1 scaled
'Play Power' will run from 16 May to 4 October 2026. The exhibition examines the concept of play in human cultures and reflects on its broader significance, including how play is integrated into daily life and whether making it a central focus of day-to-day living could lead to a more meaningful life.
Its contents include historical objects and artworks, contemporary art, games and toys, alongside 'Dream Shaping', an immersive experience in which visitors participate in an improvised performance using tracking helmets and oversized geometric forms.
In 'Dream Shaping', visitors enter a giant play-space in which they experiment across physical and virtual worlds, equipped with tracking helmets and a selection of oversized soft geometric forms that make participants part of an improvised performance. The experience was developed by Media Molecule and Marshmallow Laser Feast and commissioned by Barbican Immersive.
'Play Power' forms part of the Sainsbury Centre's 'What is the Meaning of Life?' exhibition season and is curated by Tania Moore, Head of Exhibitions at the Sainsbury Centre, and Samuele Tacconi.
