Netropolis · Michael Najjar

The work series entitled "netropolis" explores the way global cities will develop in the future. Computer networks and the information society are the driving force behind a transformation of our urban environments comparable to the impact of the industrial revolution. Three components characterize this shift: space becomes the image of space; the city functions as a terminal where real and telematic space merge; material embodiment extends through virtual representation, creating "tele-polis." Telematic structures intermingle with urban environments, generating unprecedented urban forms. Panoramic views digitally fused from multiple angles create abstract, multi-layered relationship networks with geographic anchoring. Virtual space collapses distinctions of distance and proximity. The series portrays eight megacities — Berlin, London, Mexico City, New York, Paris, São Paulo, Shanghai, and Tokyo — through hybrid photography, video work, and three-dimensional image sculpture.