It all starts with.. 

We are currently in a time of great change, both for mankind as a whole and for us as individuals. These changes are so immense that we can barely comprehend them. Seen through the lens of our current status quo, these changes rise up to become grotesque, untouchable monsters that strike fear in our hearts. They cause us to seek refuge in familiar, but old-fashioned concepts. We need to look at these changes with new ‘eyes’ to truly understand them and to dream up and shape potential new worlds.

The arts make this possible. The arts are not just for amusement, and is more than just a useful way to make scientific insights more aesthetically pleasing.

It is vital that the arts transcend this role and – oh, the irony – return to their essence: showing the infinite in the finite.

In other words, the arts should offer alternative ways of looking at reality.

It all starts with imagination

Theo Ploeg.
Lecturer in speculative design, co-founder of Speculative Futures Amsterdam and explorer of the edges of accelerationism with his own Studio Hyperspace. Also: pop culture connoisseur.