What’s On: Mars & Beyond interactive experience

An interactive and immersive experience packed with art, talks, film screenings, music, virtual and augmented reality experiences and performances will ponder the question of life on Mars.

Mars & Beyond merges two critical themes of the 21st century – the rise in global warming, deforestation, animal species extinction and plastic pollution in our oceans; and secondly, the revival of the space race.

The immersive experience, taking place across five floors of Southbank’s Bargehouse and running from February 20 March 15, will explore the human race now and in the future.

Examining the science of our planet and presenting imaginative alternative futures, Mars & Beyond aims to educate, caution, entertain and inspire audiences of all ages.

Set at the close of the 21st century, Mars & Beyond looks back in time to the year 2020 creating a perspective, through the artistic lens, from which to consider solutions for the current state of our planet.

The brainchild of visionary artist Oskar Krajewski, the show welcomes everyone, from young to old, lovers of art, the earth and science fiction.

Krajewski is the founder of creative studio Art-Recyclism, and for Mars & Beyond will collaborate with more than 40 artists and contributors, including Greenpeace, Sci-Fi London and Flux.

A statement from Mars and Beyond said: “Our planetary home is struggling.

“ The ice caps have rapidly melted, the water level has risen.

“Farming of animals and mining oil has spoiled its atmosphere and its soil. We have set the earth on fire and suffocated it with plastic pollutants.

Is leaving the blue planet to colonise the solar system a solution for humanity?

Are we ready for a fresh start and a new adventure? Or should we focus on fixing things here first?

“Can you afford to leave our planet, or will you stay to restore the balance?”