Survival in the 21st Century

This exhibition, Survival in the 21st Century, explores the profound environmental, social, and political challenges of our time through a diverse range of artworks. Each piece confronts the complex realities of survival, resilience, and identity in an era of rapid change. The exhibit spans photography, film, sculpture, and digital media, with contributions from renowned artists who highlight humanity’s evolving relationship with nature, technology, and global society.

• Sharon Lockhart’s Baltic Sea Film: A meditative, one-take exploration on the island of Gotland, where questions of life’s uncertainties and the pressing issues of our era are illuminated against a Baltic Sea backdrop.

• Leon Kahane’s “Frontex #2 (Flowers)”: This artwork travels to Hamburg schools, where students create their own interpretations, sparking dialogue around borders, migration, and survival in modern society.

• Lubaina Himid: Through her textile-inspired art, Himid delves into colonial histories and questions the economic underpinnings that drove both colonialism and capitalism, reminding viewers of the enduring impact of these systems.

• Simon Denny: With a critical look at digital transformations, Denny’s pieces reflect on technology’s power dynamics, highlighting the hidden costs of rare earth extraction and environmental exploitation.

• Yalda Afsah and Andrea Bowers: Their works reveal the persistence of collective resilience, community, and joy as forms of resistance in challenging times—celebrating human connection amid social upheavals.

By bringing these works together, Survival in the 21st Century provokes reflection on human adaptability, ecological fragility, and the enduring search for meaning. Visitors are invited to contemplate how art can inspire change and foster resilience in an uncertain future.