Barbican's 'In Other Worlds' Falls Flat While Delcy Morelos's 'origo' Delivers True Immersion

A review of two concurrent exhibitions at London's Barbican Centre in May 2026. 'In Other Worlds', an immersive exhibition by Liam Young and collaborators, aims to imagine future worlds grappling with climate change through audio stories, film, miniature models, and costumes. The reviewer criticizes it as disjointed, underwhelming, and overpriced at £20.50 for adults, noting uncomfortable seating, disconnected audio stories, and a clunky ending in a car park with science screens. In contrast, Delcy Morelos's 'origo', a free installation in the Level 3 Sculpture Court, is praised for its truly immersive experience using mud, clay, lavender, and earth mulch, evoking ancestral caves and connection to the earth. The review highlights the irony of the Barbican's brutalist architecture as a dystopian backdrop. 'In Other Worlds' runs 21 May – 6 September 2026; 'origo' is free until 31 July 2026.