Filmmaker, writer and artist Penny Woolcock presents this massive art installation in the atmospheric space of the Roundhouse as part of the Bloomberg Summer programme. This immersive experience is nothing short of a revelation, both unexpected and deeply relevant.

Utopia is formed of two main spaces plus the reception area, dominated by a monumental tower of cardboard boxes that, together with clever lightning, create a nearly alien landscape. These boxes, a constant throughout the installation, are packages for ‘life goals’ we all crave at some point: cool, glamour, fame, spirituality, etc. The false illusion that those are the goals we should live for – whether that is what we really want or not – and the disappointment of not getting there are present throughout Utopia, as well as the notion that today we are what we have, instead of what we are.

The installation is filled with sounds coming from everywhere: from the speakers of a car to books in a library or a red phone box. We can hear the (real) stories of many Londoners, about the fulfilment and the crashing of dreams, of disgrace and hope. Dealing with issues such as drug addiction, prostitution and homelessness, these vivid portraits of real-life people make the viewer aware of the harsh reality of life, despite all those boxes of success we all secretly aspire to buy.

There is an underlying narrative to this installation, as Woolcock herself explains in a text available to the visitor at the entrance. Books like Plato’s Republic and More’s Utopia are some of her inspirational texts, and they are physically present in this art piece, either by directly showing the book or by displaying a video of people reading excerpts from it. Together with the testimonies, these classic texts feel relevant and more of a utopia than what has been instilled in our minds since birth. But even beyond these concepts and ideas, Utopia forces you to stop and, maybe for the first time in forever, actually listen. It puts us out of our bubble and confronts us with reality. And reality can be harsh and terrible, but ultimately beautiful.

Exploring Utopia is a nearly cinematic experience. Each room is wonderfully detailed and sometimes feels like a film set: an old library, a factory, the rubble of a destroyed city landscape… They all feel real and immediate, as well as absolutely immersive. These wonderful designs by Block9, together with low lighting and smoky atmosphere, aid to create the illusion and made the visit a constant stimulation of the senses and an eye-opening experience.

The beauty, level of detail, straight-forwardness, lyricism and honesty of this installation are just unique. It is a visit to be enjoyed slowly, paying attention to each and every detail, being hugely satisfying as well as unsettling. In this individualistic world, making the effort to listen to others and empathise with them feels like a revelation – a window to what happens when we dare to leave the cave.

Utopia is open at the Roundhouse until 23 August. For more information and tickets, see the Roundhouse website. Photo: David Levene.