2219: Futures Imagined

This is a story of a possible future.

The exhibition 2219: Futures Imagined begins in the year 2019, when the repercussions of environmental degradation were increasingly being felt. Governments around the world were making efforts to slow the effects of an impending climate calamity, but to little effect.

The Singapore Government addressed the issue of climate change in its 2019 National Day Rally, prompting a three-pronged approach to tackling climate change — understand, mitigate and adapt.

In the years immediately following 2019, the world continued to undergo extensive change. Whilst technological advancements made the lives of some in society more convenient and interconnected, the earth’s resources were being exploited beyond their capacity.

Humanity’s destructive power over the planet, and its apparent indifference to this grave situation, ushered in an ecological crisis which profoundly affected the course of Singapore’s future.

2019 is remembered as the year of its arrival.

List of artists:

John Akomfrah

In the decades after 2019, triumphs and challenges were experienced across the world and on every continent, as ecological, social and political changes unfolded. By the middle of the 21st century, cities had become more homogenous. Issues were no longer bordered and contained by imaginary national lines — what was experienced in one location had repercussions across the oceans and around the world.

At home, daily life evolved significantly. Living spaces became more self-sustaining as the environment became less able to provide essentials such as food and clean water. Interior design considerations and treasured possessions were set aside to make space for food production in the home.

Whilst the world of the mid-21st century differed greatly from the decades that preceded it, in Singapore, the familiarity of public housing, shared communal spaces, a fascination with nature and a continued interest in local issues remained. Being highly adaptable, many Singaporeans were able to make the necessary adjustments needed to survive on a changing planet.

List of artists:

Debbie Ding, Hafiz Osman, Johann M Fauzi, Robert Zhao Renhui, Sarah Choo Jing,

Superflux, WOHA

By 2060, living conditions on the Earth’s surface had taken a turn for the worse. The environment was no longer suitable for human societies. Life migrated underground.

Having made significant progress in exploring beneath the surface, Singapore was well-placed to move its citizens into a subterranean environment. The propositions of Singapore-based architect Finbarr Fallon provided a template for underground life, and by 2065, Singapore was ready to mark its centennial year of independence below ground.

However, not all things could be transported below. Underground cities had limited sunlight to sustain plants and animals, and over time nature became rarefied. Artificial shrines acted as memento mori to the rich flora and fauna of the past.

As the relationship between people and nature became less tangible, these synthetic sanctuaries gained value as a means of healing and offered spaces where deep connections could be forged.

List of artists:

Alvin Pang, Donna Ong, Finbarr Fallon, Fyerool Darma, Gordon Cheung, Lisa Park

By 2119, sea levels had risen significantly around the world, inundating many coastal cities and forcing communities and societies to adopt dramatically different ways of living.

Humanity’s global technological infrastructure was disintegrating due to increasingly severe environmental challenges, leading to fragmented social and political systems. The sea became the primary geological feature on the planet. Adapting to an increasingly oceanic world became critical for survival.

By the early 22nd century, the impact of climate change on the temperature and chemistry of marine ecosystems was striking. As the sea acidified and warmed, it became an ideal habitat for one particular species — jellyfish. An immersive installation by Rimini Protokoll provides an insight into the era when jellyfish became the dominant species on earth. The minority species, humans, recall a time when their ancestors attempted to prevent this eventuality.

List of artists:

Bao Songyu, Rimini Protocol

Here and now, the 23rd century begins and after a long period of humanity’s absence, the environment on the surface of the Earth has begun a process of regeneration.

As populations return to the surface, many cultures are beginning to find unusual and surprising archeological objects that were once left behind. As historical relics are recovered and their meanings deciphered, stories passed down through generations are starting to make sense again. In many places around the world, these artifacts are the foundations upon which society is being rebuilt.

In 2219 as Singapore prepares to commemorate 400 years of national history — its Quadricentennial — it is rediscovering the strength of its own collective memory. Traditions that endured through the worst years of ecological calamity, such as ancestral customs, domestic crafts and rituals are being practiced again. It is clear that what endures through the centuries is not technology and infrastructure, but cultural traditions that are passed down within the family from one generation to another.

The stories we tell, the art we make, the prayers we offer, the rituals we repeat — these are the intimate legacies of our past, which we take with us into our future.

List of artists:

Adeline Kueh, Amanda Heng, Chen Yanyun, Lary Achiampong, Priyageetha Dia, Shan Hur, Zarina Muhammad

At the heart of 2219: Futures Imagined is The Library of Necessary Books. From literary cannon to DIY manuals of utilitarian know-how, The Library of Necessary Books is a collection of books that have been lovingly handed down from generation to generation, from the past into the future.

Visitors are invited to submit books to the Library for display in the exhibition. The Library accepts donations of books that may hold a special meaning to visitors, or books that donors deem important for future generations of Singaporeans. When they make their book submission, donors are encouraged to write a message that they would like to convey to the Library users of the future.

The Librarian of Necessary Books will take receipt of the books in special sessions at ArtScience Museum, and the Librarian will curate a selection for display in the exhibition.

Book Donation details
Dates: Every first Saturday of the month during the run of the exhibition
Time: 12pm – 2pm

The Library of Necessary Books also features a permanent display of short stories written by classical Singaporean authors of this period, such as Alvin Pang, Clara Chow, Rachel Heng, Judith Huang and Joshua Ip.

In the future, tall or double-storey bikes may become a popular mode of transport in cities affected by the rising sea levels. How else might we navigate flooded roads and highways?

Artist Hafiz Osman’s tall bike, titled Penghulu, is part of 2219: Futures Imagined exhibition. Members of the public at the October edition of SG Car Free Weekend had the opportunity to try riding on the tall bike.

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