Portals

There is a point somewhere between childhood and adulthood when dragons, distant planets, heroic quests and impossible machines are pushed aside by more practical concerns. Portals offers a chance to step back through that door.

Located at the Fever Exhibition Hall on Scotts Road, Portals is a sprawling exhibition dedicated to the art, literature and craftsmanship behind fantasy and science fiction. Created by The Imaginariad in partnership with the National Reading Movement and the National Library Board, it brings together more than 300 original paintings, thousands of books and over 10,000 hand-painted miniatures across a series of themed spaces.

For anyone who grew up reading science fiction and fantasy, parts of the exhibition feel like walking through a visual history of the genre. Familiar names such as Isaac Asimov, Ursula K. Le Guin, Robert E. Howard, Edgar Rice Burroughs and Michael Moorcock appear alongside original book-cover paintings, illustrations and editions of their work.

There are displays devoted to fantasy kingdoms, lost worlds, futuristic cities, tabletop gaming and science-fiction spacecraft. Some brought back childhood memories, while others introduced artists, writers and titles that I had either forgotten or completely missed.

One of the most impressive aspects of Portals is that the experience remains largely physical and screen-free. The rooms are filled with paintings, miniature figures, models, books and carefully constructed environments rather than an endless collection of digital projections. The artwork therefore remains the focus, allowing visitors to appreciate the craftsmanship and detail that helped give these fictional worlds their identities.

The large dioramas are particularly absorbing. Thousands of miniature figures are arranged into elaborate scenes, including a circular reconstruction of Atlantis, fantasy battlefields and futuristic worlds. These are the sort of displays that reward patience. The longer you look, the more small details begin to emerge.

Portals also works as more than a collection of memorabilia. Its association with the National Reading Movement gives the exhibition a wider purpose: encouraging visitors, particularly younger ones, to explore the books and stories behind the artwork. It is easy to recognise a character or fictional universe from a film or game. The exhibition gently points visitors back towards the authors, illustrators and books from which many of those worlds originated.

At the end of the exhibition, visitors can slow down and create something of their own. There are spaces to draw fantasy characters and paint miniature figurines. Some of the completed work left behind by earlier visitors was remarkably good and demonstrated just how effectively these stories continue to inspire new generations of artists and readers.

Portals will appeal to the inner nerd in almost every science-fiction, fantasy, role-playing and tabletop-gaming fan. It is nostalgic without relying entirely on nostalgia, introducing visitors to unfamiliar worlds while celebrating the stories that shaped the genre.

Definitely worth visiting before the portal closes.

A visit here should last one about 60 minutes and is a great way to spend part of your weekend.