The Wild Within is a series that brings new life into abandoned buildings from a bygone Soviet era.
Based on real-world physical spaces, an animated rebirth into a digital realm has been created.
Koopmans visited this region over several years, exploring the ruins and photographing the spaces.
Upon returning, in collaboration with Alice Wexell, he digitally introduced vegetation, manipulated the lighting, modified the structures, and animated the scenes with the intention of reviving the empty spaces, essentially bringing life back into the rooms. With these pieces, Koopmans and Wexell aim to bring the viewer into an alternate place and time.
The results are a surreal collision between the past and future, as well as the physical and digital worlds.
Koopmans states that his aim was “ to create a sense of surreal tranquility whilst referencing the themes of urban exploration, architectural history and the resurgence of nature.”
There is also an uncanny and somewhat supernatural atmosphere reminiscent of the 1979 Soviet sci-fi film ‘Stalker’ by Andrei Tarkovsky, in the way the plants have beset the town’s mysterious architecture.
Many of the buildings depicted in The Wild Within have been demolished in recent months, further emphasizing the theme of time passing in the cycle of growth and decay.
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See the complete series minted on SuperRare
Read the Press about The Wild Within
See Exhibitions of The Wild Within
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The Wild Within: Devotion
Collected by Jim Carrey
The Wild Within: Elevate
Collected by Forever Lands
The Wild Within: Hollow
Collected by GBLSTS
The Wild Within: Ambition
Collected by Cryptonio123
The Wild Within: Gathering
Collected by Art On Internet
The Wild Within: Harmony
Collected by Art On Internet
The Wild Within: Departure
Collected by Art On Internet
The Wild Within: Eternity
Collected by 888
The Wild Within: Harvest
Collected by Bharat Krymo
The Wild Within: Secrets
Collected by Brian 14
The Wild Within: Balance
Collected by Aure Gimon
The Wild Within: Promises
Collected by Cuerno Group
The Wild Within: Visions
Collected by Noun 53
Press Links about The Wild Within
Condé Nast Traveler - Deserted Soviet Town Is Attracting New Visitors Through Art
Tabi Labo - Garden Of The Gods
Visual Atelier 8 - Surreal Architectural Realms By Ryan Koopmans
Fast Company - These Abandoned Soviet Buildings Got A Hauntingly Gorgeous Makeover
Design Boom - Abandoned Soviet Architecture Digitally Revived With Dancing Flowers
SuperRare Editorial 2021 - The Wild Within
Architectural Digest - Photographer Spent Five Years Capturing Abandoned Soviet-Era Spas
Calvert Journal - Home From Home
CNN - The Abandoned Soviet-era Spas A Community Of Refugees Calls Home
GQ Magazine - Inside The City That Time Forgot
WIRED - The Abandoned Soviet Spas Inhabited by Georgian Refugees
Creative Boom - Decaying Spas of the USSR
SuperRare Editorial 2022 - The Power Of Nature Compels You
Exhibitions of The Wild Within
2022 - Beijing, China - Yongle Auction Spring 2022
2022 - NYC, USA - MODA presents A Question For Time exhibition
2022 - NYC, USA - SuperRare Gallery x Jonathan Little exhibition
2022 - NYC, USA - Ben Skaar Curation at the South Street Seaport
2022 - NYC, USA - Time Square Showcase by NFT NYC
2022 - NYC, USA - The Pyramid Screen by NFTSea
2022 - Venice, Italy - Decentral Art Pavilion
2022 - NYC, USA - Crypt Gallery x Dream Downtown
2022 - Miami, USA - Blackdove Gallery at BTC Miami
2022 - Liverpool, UK - NFT Liverpool
2022 - Stockholm, Sweden - My Way Gallery
2022 - New York, USA - SuperRare Monolith
2022 - Stockholm, Sweden - OtherLands NFT Festival
2021 - Montreal, Canada - 0x Society
2021 - Calgary, Canada - Photoville 'The Fence'
2021 - Tokyo, Japan - NEO Shibuya Screen
2021 - Miami, USA - SuperRare Monolith
2021 - Miami, USA - The Temporal Gallery at Flagler Street
2021 - Miami, USA - MoDa The Wall at Factory Town
2021 - Dubai, UAE - WOW Summit
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