FUTURING

Futuring showcases the work of 32 artists and collectives that look beyond the present climate moment to imagine alternative futures through radical ecology, worldbuilding, nature-based communication, Indigenous knowledge, and interconnectedness between nature, humanity, and technology. The exhibition highlights how art can inspire positive change for our planetary future.

CalArts || Earth Edition Festival
September 2023

The works in the indoor galleries center on worldbuilding, featuring artists utilizing VR/AR, moving image, robotics, real-time data visualization, gaming engines, and mixed media to envision alternative eco-futures. Some artists layer environmental knowledge into their work to underscore ecological concerns through an artistic lens. Others experiment with materials like bioplastic and live algae, revealing the interplay between human-generated and natural processes.

The outdoor installations carve out spaces for contemplation and connection with natural and built surroundings. These works ask: “What can we learn from the wisdom of organic systems and non-human entities?” They propose eco-conscious futures where the interconnectedness between humanity and the broader environment is acknowledged and nourished.

Many artists' works are rooted in social sculpture, actively shaping the future through participatory processes and foregrounding art's role in influencing societal structures. These practices include cultivating organic foods, collaborating with agricultural workers in California, and building green spaces for abolitionist futures. The approaches are grounded in collaborating with communities to create spaces for dialogue.

https://www.eartheditionfestival.la/futuring