Once Upon a Time is a digital artwork that brings new life into an abandoned building by combining photography with animation to create a surreal, meditative and moving architectural space. The pictured building, built between 1890-1920, is the interior of an old decaying house in the Dannawi neighbourhood of Beirut, Lebanon. A custom musical score has been added by Swedish composer Karl-David Larson.

Koopmans and Wexell’s work captures the unrelenting and permanent qualities of nature. By juxtaposing wild and vibrant natural elements with a derelict, built environment, this work invites the viewer to meditate on nature’s resilience relative to human creation.

​

The piece was premiered at the Lobkowicz Palace in Prague Castle during the exhibition Non-Fungible Castle from October 27 - November 13, 2022.