Futures of the Past

Projects dealing with the topic of the future. Vague hope and anxiety for the tomorrow is coexist. This led to the imagination of the unknown future. Some of them stayed in just idea but some had come true. At this gallery, there are several projects talking about the better future. Futures of the Past is an archival exhibition of the projects of people who dreamed of the future in the past. There were small and large creative experiments, which succeeded or failed in making utopia,revolution and technology development, made today's world we are living in. Various materials and results from these experiments are here.

futures of the past introGwangju Design Biennale

Future is a product of the past.It is an archaeological approach to envision our future by looking back on the past. what kind of futures the previous generations had imagined.

Curator Kim sang kyu's interviewGwangju Design Biennale

Curator Kim Sang Kyu's interview

futures of the past libraryGwangju Design Biennale

Early Concept of Space Exploration Early Concept of Space Exploration by NASAGwangju Design Biennale

NASA's space development plan is a realm of science technology and politics are intertwined. Thus, these materials will have a glimpse of what kinds of futures those who lived in the past dreamed of.

Supercomputer Drawinx Supercomputer Drawinx by NayoungimGwangju Design Biennale

The manual drawing of a supercomputer, a state- of-the-art technology, is an attempt to bring technological power back to the boundaries of humankind.

Life in the Year 2000 (1965) by Lee Jung-moonGwangju Design Biennale

The science fiction comic series in 1965, picturing life in the 2000s. Surprisingly enough, much of what the cartoonist imagined in the series has become a reality in the new millennium.

GoatMan GoatMan (2016) by Thomas ThwaitesGwangju Design Biennale

“GoatMan” is an experimental project based on the idea that human beings may be able to understand the environment by becoming other animals, such as a goat.

The Archive Project:the birth of a space boy (2017) by Park Sang-joon KORGwangju Design Biennale

What kind of images contributed to the dreams of space industry in Korea?

Autarky (2010) by FormafantasmaGwangju Design Biennale

Installation that creates a scenario of building a peaceful and autonomous community where the members of the community grow their own food and make tools to use by themselves.

Parkcycle Swarm (2013) by N55(Ion Sørvin, Till Wolfer)Gwangju Design Biennale

The Parkcycle Swarm is a modular system that allows people to build an instant public park at any time and place.

Walking House (2008) by N55(Ion Sørvin, Till Wolfer)Gwangju Design Biennale

Walking House is a modular dwelling system that enables people to live a peaceful nomadic life, moving slowly through the landscape or cityscape with a minimal impact on the environment.

Psychotic Mickey Mouse (2007) by Nayoungim, Gregory MaassGwangju Design Biennale

Psychotic Mickey Mouse represents the people of our society including salary man, students, and house wives, who end up losing themselves while striving to show only their bright sides to others."

Life Cycle : Bici Coffee (2013) by Kim Jong-buhmGwangju Design Biennale

“Life Cycle” is a project that reforms original designs to make them fit into the constraints of necessity, linking individual lifestyle and daily objects. it conveys the message of slowness.

CCTV Chandelier: Virtual Doppelganger Simulator (2008) by Kim HwangGwangju Design Biennale

This is an interactive installation that can reflect viewer’s virtual doppelganger. You can look objectively into yourself in a third person’s point of view.

Pyramid Light Bulb (2008) by Kim HwangGwangju Design Biennale

The Bulb that emits light to the extent that you turn a handles look like a self-powered flashlight. What do you think about a job of a human generator who works to supply power on behalf of others?

The Socio-Cultural History of Kit (2017) by Unmake Lab (Song Soo-yon, Choi Binna)Gwangju Design Biennale

“The Socio-Cultural History of Kit” illuminates the “kit” in the history of technology, and records the related histories, spaces, makers, and users.

Credits: Story

Curator:Kim Sang-kyu,Lee Young-june

Lee Jiwon
Seo Dong-jin
Kim Yong-chan
Kim Jeong-hye

Park Dalsaem

Choi Eunji

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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