RMB City by Cao Fei

In the most well-known proto-Metaverse work, conceived by artist Cao Fei in the virtual world of Second Life, RMB City was a vibrant exploration of urban and cultural evolution within a fictional online Chinese metropolis. Opening to the public in 2009 and active until 2011, this digital playground melded symbols of Chinese reality with futuristic visions, featuring floating architecture and surreal landscapes. The online, open space was available to the public via avatar to explore. While the work was active, through her avatar, China Tracy, Cao Fei curated events, exhibitions, and installations that attracted a global audience. The project was both a social experiment and an artistic commentary, reflecting on China’s rapid urban transformation and the blurring lines between virtual spaces and real-world dynamics while anticipating major upcoming trends in immersive environments like the metaverse. The work has been exhibited at MoMA’s PS1.