From a prototype domestic wallpaper which is designed to reveal itself in response to internal air pollution, to a large sculptural ‘lung’ made from a pioneering organic building material, Future Knowledge is a thought-provoking new exhibition that will explore the role of visual culture in raising awareness about climate change.

Building upon the ambition of last year’s inaugural edition of Future Knowledge (20 May – 25 June 2017), over five weeks Modern Art Oxford will be transformed into a public studio – a space where questions are asked, ideas are shared, and future possibilities imagined. Bringing together artworks, prototypes and projects by artists, designers and thinkers from a wide range of different disciplines, this unique exhibition will showcase a fascinating and diverse range of creative responses to environmental concerns. In particular, it will ask: how can artistic inquiry and creative ecological design generate new perspectives on climate change?

Climate change has already had a measurable impact on the environment, which scientists agree has most likely been caused by human activity since the mid-twentieth century. There has been a significant global temperature increase in recent years, causing warming oceans, melting ice sheets and increasingly frequent extreme weather events. Future Knowledge will acknowledge these facts and help raise further awareness of environmental concerns, but it will also celebrate the possibility that creativity and ingenuity in current and future generations can bring about a positive change.

Future Knowledge is part of the nationwide project, Season for Change, which invites artists and arts organisations from across the country to explore climate change through creative presentation.