With Future Humanity – Our Shared Planet, Hyundai Motor Company, Central Academy of Fine Arts Beijing and Ars Electronica present their first joint exhibition project. The show focuses on the social and cultural dimensions of technological progress. The 25 projects will be on display almost simultaneously, but divided among the Hyundai Motorstudio Beijing, Seoul and Moscow – the Beijing presentation is the most extensive with 17 projects. Future Humanity – Our Shared Planet opens on November 7 in Beijing, November 9 in Seoul, and November 24 in Moscow.
The exhibition addresses the future relationships between humans and machines, the interplay of culture and technology, as well as the tension between tradition and spirituality on the one hand, and mechanization and rationalization on the other. We, as humans, are ultimately at the center of all these issues. We who are always trying to push against supposed limits and transform the world – and ourselves – to our advantage. We who always strive to make the impossible possible using technology above all – technology that fuels more progress in turn, shaping our culture and society.
But now we are on the verge of a new era. Until now, every technology on the planet has been developed, constructed, and used as a tool by humans. But what if technology progresses from a mere tool to a more or less independent companion, partner and colleague? What will it do, what will it decide and control? What role will technology play? And what role will we play? What kind of cultural effects will this new generation of machines have? And how can we avoid our dreams turning into nightmares?
Future Humanity – Our Shared Planet puts artistic statements about these issues in the spotlight in the same places where engineers and designers present their visions: in the Hyundai Motorstudio Beijing, Seoul and Moscow. Each of these brand lands provides a stage and a forum for future ideas around mobility, energy, and sustainability. What better place could there be for artists to pose their questions about how these ideas of the future will change our lives?
Future Humanity – Our Shared Planet was shaped by three curators: Martin Honzik (Senior Director Festival/Prix/EXPORT Ars Electronica), Qiu Zhijie (Professor at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts and curator of the Chinese Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2017) and Lee Daehyung (Art Director of the Hyundai Motor Company and curator of the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2017).
Given that, it’s no surprise that the project presentation shows different cultural influences along with something else of essential importance: the entire world is working on the future and progress is powered everywhere by a great variety of human wishes, dreams and visions.
Beijing:
Location: HYUNDAI MOTORSTUDIO BEIJING, 798 ART DISTRICT
Artists: Michele Spanghero (IT), Shinseungback Kimyonghun (KR), Mary Flanagan (US), Memo Akten (TR), Toby Kiers, Isaac Monté (NL), Amy Karle (US), Lining Yao (US/CN), Jifei Ou (CN), DEPART (AT), Etsuko Ichihara (JP), Dan Chen (TW/US), Long Xingru & Zhou Jiangshan (CN), Wang Yuyang (CN), Dent Hanbin, Zhang Sitian (CN)
Exhibition design: ANY:TIME
Seoul:
Opening: November 9th, 2018 / Closing: February 28th, 2018
Location: HYUNDAI MOTORSTUDIO SEOUL
Artists: Yangachi (KR), ROOMTONE (KR), LEE Jangwon (KR)
Moscow:
Opening: November 24th, 2018 / Closing: February 28th, 2018
Location: HYUNDAI MOTORSTUDIO MOSCOW
Artists: ::vtol:: aka Dmitry Morozov (RU), STAIN (RU)