Phantasmapolis x Manila: Select Works from the 2021 Asian Art Biennial invites viewers to imagine possible futures in the aftermath of the pandemic through its central themes of Asian futurism and science fiction culture. The exhibition title takes from the novel by architect Wang Dahong that referenced the Greek words “phantasma” (phantom) and “polis” (city-state).

Phantasmapolis, the mirage of a city, presents works by Filipino and Taiwanese artists alongside archive materials and documents. The exhibition, curated by Tessa Maria Guazon, proposes to re-examine Asia's past and present through these modalities of futurity. This touring exhibition is an iteration of the 2021 Asian Art Biennial with works by artists Catalina Africa, He Kun Lin, Li Kuei-Pi, Li Yin Fan, Lin Shu Kai, Mark Salvatus, Yuyu Yang, and Alvin Zafra.