The scientific fictions of capital cannot simply be opposed. They must be countered with fictions that put pressure on the current monopolisation of capital over possible realities.
Mark Fisher in the introduction to the Economic Science Fictions
Announcement: 30 January 2025, at the City Imaginary group show
Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova +MSUM
The interdisciplinary creative group gradually formed speculative artefacts and situations from prototypes, which, as an interactive performance in progress, inhabits the Crater Creative Laboratory —a wild construction pit in the centre of Ljubljana. Visitors enter a different, radical and real-utopian future and actively co-create addressing issues such as cultures, economies and political procedures based on the principles of intersectional justice, (eco)feminism and degrowth. The performances in two acts —the first in January, as part of the YUFU Series, and the second in Spring 2024— do not represent a conclusion, but only a beginning. Because, according to the authors, the moment has come to reclaim both the narratives of possible futures and the importance of public participation in their interrogation and co-creation. The intention of the project and the group is to establish, through concrete —but still experimental— manifestations, a space for the social transcendence of capitalist realism; that is, a space and a social laboratory for the production of what Mark Fisher calls effective virtualities: fictions that not only anticipate the post-capitalist future but also begin to embody and enact it.
Premiere: 26 and 27 January 2024, at 18.00
Location: Crater Creative Laboratory
Concept: Rok Kranjc
Artistic group: Lina Akif, Olja Grubić, Ida Hiršenfelder (beepblip), Tea Hvala, Andrej Koruza, Rok Kranjc, Gaja Mežnarić Osole, Ajda Pistotnik, Metod Zupan
Advisors: Katja Čičigoj, Tjaša Črnigoj, Žiga Divjak
Sceen design: Toni Soprano Meneglejte
Technical support: Igor Remeta
Producer: Polona Dolžan
Production: Maska Ljubljana
Partners: Bunker, Crater Creative Laboratory
Support: Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia, Ljubljana City Municipality – Department for Culture
Photo: Asiana Jurca Avci
The project is a part of TESTNI POLIGON: Reparativne prakse za nov kulturni ekosistem European project.
Future 14B is a living laboratory and experiment, co-created by a transdisciplinary group of researchers, performers, designers and activists, whose aim is to conceive, debate, research, experience and ultimately performatively realise (some) possible futures.
Co-funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.
