Future U: exhibition catalogue

I’m excited to be able to share with you the Future U digital catalogue, which has just been released. It is very timely, as despite the exhibition being officially open, the gallery doors are currently closed because of Melbourne’s 7th pandemic lockdown.

Future U explores what it means to be human during a time of rapid technological acceleration. The exhibition, which I co-curated with Jonathan Duckworth, presents creative responses to a future which embraces the possibilities of a body and a world that extends beyond our current limitations.

Originally scheduled for 2020, the brutal reality of the pandemic meant Future U was put on hold. I kept in touch with Jonathan via screen as we completed the catalogue, wrote the exhibition text, and held consultations with artists, the designer and the RMIT Gallery and production team. Luckily, there were brief windows of opportunity between Melbourne’s relentless lockdowns for us to meet the RMIT Gallery team onsite.

Alas the exhibition opening night, a time for us to celebrate with the artists and audiences, was cancelled because of Melbourne’s lockdown number 6. That’s why we are so thrilled to have the digital catalogue, which opens up the exhibition online.

The Future U catalogue contains an in-depth curatorial essay as well as all the exhibition wall text, and information about the artists and the works on display. Combined with the immersive installation photography by Mark Ashkanasy, the digital catalogue provides an insight into the exhibition.

Future U features works by artists, designers and researchers including Bettina von Arnim, Holly Block, Karen Casey, Duckworth Hullick Duo, Peter Ellis, Jake Elwes, Alexi Freeman, Libby Heaney, Leah Heiss and Emma Luke, Pia Interlandi, Amy Karle, Mario Klingemann, Zhuying Li, Christian Mio Loclair, Maina-Miriam Munsky, Patricia Piccinini, Stelarc, Uncanny Valley, and Deborah Wargon.

I am hoping that audiences will be able to see their amazing work before the exhibition closes on 23 October, 2021.

In the meantime – please enjoy the catalogue. And stay tuned for the exhibition podcast!

Main image (top): Installation image, Future U, 2021, RMIT Gallery. Image includes works by (left to right, from display table) Pia Interlandi, Deborah Wargon, Uncanny Valley, Mario Klingemann. Photo by Mark Ashkanasy © RMIT Gallery