By Radka Hostašová
On a scale of biological evolution, scientific discoveries and technological progress, a life cycle of a human is nearly negligible. Although it is us humans who stand behind all the inventions and ideas that contributed to the world’s development, our names will become forgotten. Why is that? Perhaps while the technological devices or scientific methods play significant roles in the present and in the future, humans remain left in the past. After all, isn’t oblivion one of the biggest concerns of human society? However, it is in our nature to keep trying to leave durable traces, that will remind the future generations of how we lived, where we belonged or what we valued.
To reflect on the dialogue between the past and the future, FACT Liverpool’s exhibition ‘Future Ages Will Wonder’, combines traditional museum artifacts, such as photography, sculpture or textiles with the elements of science and technology. The project’s idea is to put a focus on the perception of reality influenced by past stories. In other words, the things and values created in the past determine the form of our lives in the future. The exhibition commissions the work of several national and international artists, each referring to a different era whilst using particular media and creative techniques. By presenting ‘Future Ages Will Wonder’, FACT Liverpool has also entered a 12-month cycle called Radical Ancestry, that will explore how history, geography, biology, and culture shape our history.
As the description of the event might sound a bit abstract, these are a few examples of what you can experience while visiting the exhibition. One of the commissioned artworks created by Japanese multimedia artist Miku Aoki studies artificial life and immortality. Her installation made of embroidered fabrics, yarns, photographs and furniture portrays the curiosities of scientific clones and mutant specimens.
Those who prefer humanities rather than science might enjoy a multimedia installation by Chinese – Canadian artist Yarli Allison, that reconstructs Liverpool’s Old Chinatown and pictures a story of lost Chines sailors. Through other interactive projects displayed in FACT, Allison also communicates the sense of belonging and withdrawal both related to migration.
As the name of the event suggests, the aim of the new exhibition is to arouse your curiosity and make you wonder. It involves a number of complex audio-visual compositions supported by additional texts. However, visitors are not expected to entirely understand every part of the concept. Instead, ‘Future Ages Will Wonder‘ encourages the audience to engage their imagination and evaluate the past.
The exhibition opened its door to the public on the 28th of October 2021 and runs until the 20th of February 2022.
For more information visit www.fact.co.uk/event/future-ages-will-wonder