The Spirit Of Utopia Exhibition

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by Bryony Harrison (subscribe)

Freelance writer and poet from London; if you would like to read my poetry, please check out my book, 'Poems on the Page', available from goo.gl/Ta4oAX.

Event: 04/07/2013 - 05/09/2013

What Does the Future Hold?

'The Principle of Hope', Ernst Bloch,1954–59

Even with a crystal ball no one can see into the future, but that does not stop us from wondering. We are all asking the big questions: who are we? What lies in store? Where should we go from here?

In collaboration with the Whitechapel Gallery, a collective of artists have tried to answer these questions in a new exhibit, The Spirit of Utopia. Open until the 5th September, the exhibition covers five gallery spaces (what do you expect, these are big questions after all), and speculates on the future of the economy, environment, and society.

Don't expect to be just looking at pretty pictures hanging on a wall; The Spirit of Utopia is far more than a form of artistic expression. It offers scientific facts, sustainable living, technological advances, and practical solutions.

Starting with the issue of food production, Claire Pentecost studies the crucial role of earthworms to to make soil fertile, while Wayward Plants have developed an experimental greenhouse and look at the possibility of sending seeds into space.

In the mean time, Mexican artist, Pedro Reyes, looks at ways to heal society through his utopian clinic. Therapists will guide you through a series of rooms that blend science, art, and psychology. Yto Barrada also looks at repairing social relations in an installation that explores the history of colonial power.

Alongside the exhibition, there will be a series of associate events, such as tours, films, discussions, and study days. These range between £3-£10, but visiting the exhibition itself is free.