Exhibitionary urbanism: International Expos and city planning, 1851–2025

International Expositions, World Expos or World’s Fairs – hereafter referred to simply as Expos – have helped to invent, develop and disseminate the modernity that has reshaped our world since the midnineteenth century, and have contributed to the globalization of economies, cultures, societies and environments. These events are inextricably associated with pioneering inventions and technological progress, but also with empire building and colonial exploitation. According to Geppert, Expos are best understood as ‘meta-media’ that use various communicative technologies not just to convey the values of participating countries and corporations but also visions of and for the future. Futuristic exhibits, aesthetics and architectures help to explain why commentators such as Gardner consider Expos as ‘time machines’ that give the public a taste of, or a glimpse into, the future. The physical manifestation of these futures in the present means these events provide futures ready to be experienced, rather than science fiction or vague fantasies. These ‘time machines’ also have a reverse gear as Expos also function as markers of past times given that they are often staged to commemorate significant anniversaries and to build national identities by materializing shared histories and heritages.