What do you see in your ideal vision of the future?
In the 1970s, scientists at MIT predicted that society would collapse by the year 2041 as a result of ecological and economic chaos. Today, we are bombarded with constant messaging suggesting that the end of the world is near, from movies, TV shows, social media, and other platforms. While it’s tempting to accept what seems to be the inevitable destruction of humanity and our planet, our first installation entitled Affirmations for 2041 challenges us to embrace radical, optimistic imagination in envisioning a positive dream for the future. Participating artists were asked to create a mural design that embodies what an ideal future looks like for them. Check out the images below for the artist’s names and information about their work.
Artwork by Seth Laxman
Artwork by Layla Odat "This piece is inspired by what I usually try to portray in my art - Visionary Dreamworld meets Arab Futurism. This will be done in a very vibrant almost neon color scheme, because my art is meant to take the yellow filter that movies usually place on Arabs, remove it and show my world/our culture in its full imaginative vibrant hypercolor! There’s many elements included in this that all come together to represent the vibrant intersectional world I hope to see in the future, and I think putting them out there for a project like this is the best way to manifest that."
"How could I be so wrong?" by Morgan Everhart Morgan Everhart’s paintings challenge naturalism and ontology through reflection on personal experiences, identity, religion and art history. Using varying degrees of abstraction with figurative, floral, and landscape motifs, Everhart makes sense of life’s arbitrariness. In one form or another, subjects such as flora and landscape have a place in all the major rites that punctuate our existence; by envisioning them, Everhart reminds us to contemplate time and what we chose to do with it.
Artwork by Sarah Adams "In a world post-work, where computers take care of the daily grind, people are free to enjoy time and nurture what grows. "
Artwork by Alanis Alvarez
"Self Reflection" by Alanna Flowers "This piece entitled "Self Reflection" is inspired by the hope that the steps that we take today will bring about a lasting positive change for the future of our environment. The direct impact that we have on nature makes it a beautiful reflection of ourselves."
Artwork by Avani Patel
Artwork by Noor Bseiso "An ideal future is one that is full of harmonious joy. For this project, I chose to depict two women celebrating while harmoniously surrounded by a visually exuberant nature. The traditional elements reflected in the work are typical ways in which we show joy where Im originally from; Jordan. I depict the traditional thob, dress, with a plate of Knafeh, a traditional orange dessert, both often major elements in every celebration. This is the type of future I idealize; joyful community thriving alongside Mother Nature."
Artwork by Celine May "A mixed race woman is serene and surrounded by a luxurious nature, with red apples - as a reference to the Big Apple- yellow hibiscus flowers and pink butterflies flying toward a typical New York red brick building covered with vegetation and flowers. I hope we will be living in a post-race world, with more diversity, and closer to nature. I hope we will save the environment and fight climate change by giving more space to nature in our bustling cities"
Artwork by Yolanda Dukens
Artwork by Kate Nielsen "My affirmation for 2041 is a world where we have learned from natural patterns to work with nature. We have switched over to using green energy and are supporting local ecosystems towards a sustainable future."
Artwork by Joi Cole
"The Only Way is Up" by Bevin Mirielle Macutay "You’ve expanded your perspective of the world around you. Standing at the bottom of a revine, you look up to see a flock of birds flying in the direction of home. As of right now, you are at your lowest point. You try to think positively, almost forgetting that there is beauty all around you. You realize that no matter where you are or where you come from, there will always be something to look forward to if you just think positively. You sigh in relief knowing that everything will be okay."
Artwork by Hiroyuki Jang "In the center of the mural, a girl who symbolizes peace is praying. This can be decorated with symbols of other religions or beliefs, emphasizing the universality of prayer and the desire for peace. The yellow background shows a quiet and harmonious world in which a girl prays. Despite the difficult times people are experiencing, I want to share a message that we can find hope.Overall, the mural could serve as a powerful reminder that people of different backgrounds and beliefs can come together in prayer for peace and safety, and that a better world is possible if we all work towards it. It is my intention to create a picture of the origins of hope for a brighter future for everyone living on this earth in the year 2041. "
Artwork by Yalda Foroughmand "This proposed mural is an abstracted and symbolic representation of looking forward to a future of freedom where we live more connected with nature and its elements."
Artwork by Christopher Spinelli
Artwork by James Wolf "The mural: Afformations for 2041 will feature images of people from different cultures in a natural setting. The purpose of the imagery is to affirm the importance value and beauty of diverse people from different parts of Earth. We are all in fact relatives belonging to one family."
Artwork by Nell Breyer "The piece uses movements of abandon, confrontation and acceptance to propose a future through our children, already in and around us. Its puts the composition of "radical" Western paintings from a century ago: Cezanne's "The Large Bathers" (1906), Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" (1907), Matisse's "La Danse" (1910) - into an urban, contemporary context; asking how much past and future depart from and determine each other."