Seville Expo '92

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Expo '92 information which was given at the Spanish Pavilion during Expo '88 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

The Universal Exposition of Seville (Expo '92) took place from April 20 to October 12, 1992 on La Isla de La Cartuja (Cartuja Island), Seville, Spain. The theme for the Expo was "The Age of Discovery" and over 100 countries were represented. The total amount of land used for the Expo was 215 hectares and the total number of visitors was 41,814,571 (as per the BIE website [1]). Although not related, the exposition ran at the same time as Genoa Expo '92.

The Expo was the fourth Universal Exposition of the post-War era, after Brussels '58, Montreal '67, and Osaka '70, and was the last Universal Exposition of the 20th Century, celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the Discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus 1492-1992. The Exposition was to be jointly held with the City of Chicago, however, due to U.S. State and local funding difficulties Chicago had to withdraw.

The Exposition was widely known for its massive site, held at the Isla de la Cartuja, reputed site of reference for Columbus for his voyage to the New World, and required at least a several day visit to visit most of the Pavilions. It was also known for its numerous spectacular gates and bridges, and the diversity of transport within the Expo site from bus to ferry boat, to cable car and monorail. It also gave an impressive architectural tour of the world, with many countries vying for the position of the most inventive or creative Pavilion structure - outstanding amongst these was the Pavilion of Japan - the world's largest wooden structure, the Pavilion of Morocco, a re-creation of a Moroccan Palace-Mansion, and the modernistic cube and sphere of the flagship Spanish Pavilion, to name a few.

Pavilions at the Expo consisted of the Royal Pavilion and the five thematic Pavilions - Navigation, Discovery, Nature, Environment, and the Fifteenth Century; the flagship Spanish and Andalusian Pavilions at the Lake of Spain; the Spanish Autonomous Regions Pavilions all along the Lake of Spain; over 100 international Pavilions; and numerous Corporate Pavilions.

The Spanish government commissioned a theme film, Eureka!, made by Greg MacGillivray and Jon Boorstin, based on The Discoverers, by Daniel J. Boorstin; the first IMAX film to use a hand held camera, it won the principal creative award at the fair.

To offset costs by developing nations, and to allow a 'first-ever' representation by every South American nation, a special monumental structure, the 'Plaza de Americas' was constructed, a large enclosed Plaza-type building in a rustic red colour which also hosted a special Exhibition on the Gold of South America. A 'Plaza de Africa' was also created to allow maximum participation from developing African states.

The hot Sevillian summer was largely abated by a microfilter water air conditioning system throughout the site, principally along the main avenues and streets, under canopied sections both of tensile fabric and greenery.

At the conclusion of the Expo, many of the Pavilions were dismantled, and today the site is a mixture of Research and Development Park and Theme Park, with the theme park component popularly known as the Isla Magica, the 'Magic Island', which also hosts the popular Pavilion of Spain.

One can walk throughout the Research and Development Park component for free, however, admission to the Isla Magica and Pavilion of Spain is via entrance ticket only.

[edit] Countries Represented

Over 100 nations were represented at the Expo, making it one of the largest Univeral Expositions ever hosted.

Spain - the flagship Spanish Pavilion was known by its strikingly simplistic and modernistic cube and sphere, located dramatically on the edge of the artificial Lake of Spain and along the 'Road of the Discoveries' and the end of the Avenue of Europe. The sphere of the Pavilion hosted a unique gathering of the best of Spanish art, including works by Miro, Dali, Carvaggio and others, and the cube of the Pavilion hosted a IMAX Omnimax moving seat theatre presentation, which took one on a simulated tour of some of the best sights of Spain. The Pavilion restaurant was also highly rated.
The European Union, and Nations of the European Union - were all located along the Avenue of Europe, which featured twelve massive white-coloured towers, and a central multi-coloured tower featuring the flags of the (then) twelve nations of the European Union - which underground hosted the European Union Pavilion itself. The rest of the Pavilions of the Union were located at the left and right flank of the Avenue.
China - was represented with a large Chinese Gate at its entrance, and a large magnificent tapestry of the Great Wall of China on the inside entrance. To one side the sights of China were represented in a 360 degree cinema presentation.
Russia - the first representation by Russia after the collapse of the USSR featured an angled Pavilion with many coloured moving squares on its roof, which changed to represent different messages, i.e. the Russian Flag, the words 'Russia' and so on. Inside one could see aspects of the Russian space program and a Russian satellite suspended from the Pavilion ceiling.
U.S.A. - brought to you by Amway, this private enterprise representation for the U.S.A. was lucky to make it after domestic funding problems, hence was totally private enterprise funded. It featured on the outside a space-age depiction of the American flag, in three large suspended subsections, which could be seen from many angles from afar, and a large modern mural depicting discovery from the voyage of Christopher Columbus and his encounter with the American continent to the Space Shuttle. The Pavilion itself consisted of a large cinema presentation presented by Amway on modern life in America, and the Freedom House, a working modern American house that could be visited.
Japan - featured the world's largest wooden structure, and a large escalator that took you up into the heart of the structure and then you worked your way down inside the multi-level Pavilion. Outside the Pavilion one could see a snapshot of Japanese society in the queue, featuring life-size photo portraits of Japanese persons in their respective professions. Also featured a three-segmented moving anime-movie on Japan at the time of Columbus as seen by Don Quijote, and a to scale representation of the top floors of a Japanese Castle.
India. The architecture of the Indian representation represented an oriental Peacock, with a blue mast for the neck and head, and angled tiles representing the many-coloured tail plume.
Morocco - considered one of the most beautiful Pavilions at the Expo, a true work of art here featured in a three-storied traditional Moroccan Palace-Mansion, with jewel-like fountain in the centre, and open to the sky atrium and restaurant. This Pavilion is one of the few permanent Pavilions and can still be viewed at the Expo site today.
Italy - the Italian Pavilion was one of the largest Pavilions and featured a broad expose on Italian Art, Invention and Discovery. Today it also remains at the Expo site as an administrative centre for numerous corporations and businesses.
New Zealand - The New Zealand pavilion featured the exhibition Treasures of the Underworld, performances by Māori kapa haka groups, and a performance by the opera singer Kiri Te Kanawa on New Zealand Day.
Australia - featured a curved walkway entrance with several story high rainforest atrium, with tropical palm trees, birds and butterflies from the State of Queensland; a large Aquarium tank representing the ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef, resplendent with live tropical fish and coral; an Australian Gold Exhibition, featuring precious Australian works of jewellery, most notably including the Argyle Diamond Egg; and the Australian Cinema presentation, the Australian Hexaplex, a moving five-screen 360-degree slide and video presentation, set to music, featuring footage from the width and breadth of the Australian nation. A Gift Shop also featured, presented by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Gift Shop stores arm.