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Exhibition Mirrors Uncertain Future for United Kingdom

A collaborative arts project makes Brexit more relevant than ever.

Sir Thomas Moore’s influential Utopia was published in 1516 and celebrates its 500th anniversary this year. The text aimed to reform English politics with the creation of an imaginary, self-contained island where all social structures and living conditions were perfect. Now a new exhibition titled Paths to Utopia at Somerset House in London aims to trigger debate about what a perfect society looks like.

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 “Moore’s Utopia is essentially an essay, highlighting possibilities and failings with societal structures. Paths to Utopia is a 2016 version of this essay—a project with hundreds of people involved—a reality mixed with hopes and dreams,” says the show’s producer Andy Franzkowiak.

Image courtesy of Le Gun Collective

Paths to Utopia involves a range of exhibitions and performances including Temple of Perpetual Myth, a hand painted installation covered in creation stories, anarchist evening classes, and an installation examining ideals of materiality and economic security titled Discord.

“There are representations of many cultures, not just London in 2016,” Franzkowiak tells The Creators Project. “Mythology from around the world, dancing monks from India, masks from Africa, and Navajo weaving—make the exhibition globally relevant.”

Image courtesy of Bruce Atherton 

The exhibition tackles complex contemporary issues from stem cell research, IVF, and economic stability and merges them with the utopian theme. “We wanted to take audiences through a 2016 landscape of ideas, technology and issues,” Franzkowiak explains. “We were particularly interested in giving a snapshot of what is arguably the most utopian endeavor that humankind pursues that of unconditional healthcare and the ongoing understanding of the body and brain.”  In doing so, the project encourages viewers to question their mortality and dreams in relation to the future scientific and economic developments.

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Image courtesy of Jessica Sarah Rinland

The installations, exhibitions, and performances all describe Utopia as not being a blueprint for the future, but instead placing the importance of dreaming in the now. Future planning is more relevant than ever to the residents of the United Kingdom given the recent political changes.

Image courtesy of Caitlin Shepherd

 As Franzkowiak says, “The now has grown immeasurably in importance given the current political and societal place the UK has rolled itself into in the last few weeks. With Paths to Utopia we wanted to allude to the idea that perhaps everyone’s days might have a moment of utopia held within them—a meeting, a meal or a walk, simple moments that really are as wonderful as we might want to imagine, without hitting the realms of fantasy. “

Image courtesy of Gray's Anatomy (circa 1887)

Paths to Utopia is open through October. To read more about the project, click here.

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