What happens when humans stop imagining ourselves as exceptional?
SEED_2065 is a futuristic visual art project set in 2065, where humans heal ancestral damage for ecological flourishing. In 2065, humans are no longer at the centre of the world. Other natures — including animals once farmed, microbes, soil, rivers, fungi, forests — are respected, honoured, and protected. SEED_2065 asks: What will such a future look like and how will it look back on the present?
When the future is envisioned in contemporary artworks that address ecological issues, it seems that often this future is imagined as dystopian. SEED_2065 envisions a hopeful future, while looking back at the dystopian present.
This hopeful perspective is influenced by the writing of sociologist, Ruth Levitas (Levitas, 2017) on utopian thinking. Her wonderfully titled paper, ‘Where There Is No Vision The People Perish’ has been influential for this project. Levitas argues that utopian thinking is vital to enable us to ‘think differently.’ Earle also writes:
… it is possible to imagine ourselves differently. It is incumbent upon us as readers, citizens, and authors to do so more often, in more ways, and including more kinds of people. Only through different imaginings will the world’s oppressive structures shift.(Earle 2019)
The project seeks to form a supportive community of artists who will challenge both themselves and others to rethink what is possible.
Our work is underpinned by these beliefs:
- Visualising alternative narratives makes a positive difference to ourselves, to our network and to the world
- This art is political and activist
- Developing networks with other artists and those who do not consider themselves artists, makes more of a difference than working alone
- Finding ways to share and talk about our artworks (including processes and research) in a supportive environment is essential (taking part in group crits, workshops, and receiving/giving peer feedback are ways that we do this)
Collaboration is a cornerstone of this project, both among the artists and with the public. We hope SEED_2065 will be the beginning of a long-term artistic collaboration that positively impacts both the artists and the audience, inspiring them to contribute to creating a hopeful future for the Earth. To ensure the project’s continued growth, events will be recorded, and feedback systems will be implemented for ongoing development. SEED_2065 aims to travel to different locations as well as have a virtual presence. If you would like to support us, collaborate or find out more please email: seed.2065art@gmail.com
SEED_2065 