(Above) Captured from Wacker Drive on June 21, 2011, this image uses an optical effect that makes Marina City look like a miniature model. (Click on image to view larger version.)

January 7, 2012 – An art project inspired by Marina City will be on display west of the Loop starting next week. The first installment of Relics of the Future opens on January 13 at Packer Schopf Gallery, an art gallery on West Lake Street.

While looking at a photograph of Marina City, Dutch-Canadian photographer Toni Hafkenscheid wondered about the skyscrapers, dams, highways, and world fairs of the mid 20th century that once represented hope and prosperity – whatever happened to them?

So last June, Hafkenscheid traveled to Chicago and other U.S. cities to photograph what he calls “relics of the future.” Using an optical effect with a shallow depth of field, he makes the image look like a miniature scale model.

The project evolved into a documentary. Arriving in Chicago with Hafkenscheid was a three-man video crew, now working on a one-hour film that captures “iconic images of technology and architecture that were once considered visions of the future.”

Over two days last June, photographers Hafkenscheid and Dirk Kome – along with videographer Nelson Rogers and director Rob Lindsay – photographed both the outside and inside of Marina City.

An artist’s reception will be held at the gallery on January 13 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

 Related story: Marina City lands role in documentary on iconic architecture