Background

Every action has repercussions for the future, and we have a responsibility to ensure our legacy is meaningful.

Future Archaeologies aims to provide a platform for overlooked ideas, allowing them to be realised in various forms. It seeks to embrace time, using it to create art and histories that resonate with future generations.

Future Archaeologies delves into the profound notion that our understanding and interpretation of history is intricately woven from our collective memories and the remnants thereof. These memories, rich and varied, are meticulously preserved in an array of mediums, spanning from intricate texts and detailed compositions to evocative recordings. They serve as the very foundation, the bedrock, of our shared cultural and historical heritage. Yet, there exists a subset of memories, such as oral traditions, that are inherently unique to their specific era or their original creator. These memories might undergo evolution or mutation as they traverse the annals of time.

The endurance and longevity of these memories are often intrinsically determined by their very nature. Replicable forms, such as meticulously penned documents or carefully curated audio recordings, generally stand a more robust chance of surviving the relentless march of time. However, memories that are unique, mutable, or transient in nature face a significantly heightened risk of fading into obscurity. Everything, irrespective of its inherent nature, remains vulnerable to time’s inexorable ravaging.

Our rich tapestry of history is replete with poignant mentions of artworks, artefacts, and relics that, despite being diligently documented, now remain elusive and beyond our grasp. For instance, whilst the works of Cicero have admirably endured the test of time, many of his illustrious contemporaries, potentially more renowned and celebrated in their prime, are tragically lost to us. This evokes profound questions about the myriad voices, insights, and wisdom lost over the countless millennia.

 When one contemplates history, it can occasionally appear as an expansive, yet somewhat porous net, capturing only select fragments from the vast, boundless ocean of the past. Even in today's digital epoch, with its seemingly infinite repositories of data and information, we find ourselves losing invaluable knowledge at an alarmingly precipitous rate. Challenges such as rapidly obsolete file formats and the capricious nature of digital storage further exacerbate this issue. The transient and ephemeral nature of our digital archives becomes starkly evident when one endeavours to access content from bygone online eras.

Furthermore, a plethora of innovative ideas, ground-breaking concepts, and pioneering innovations regrettably never see the light of day, stifled by a myriad of constraints and limitations. Our prevailing system, often myopic in its outlook, tends to value immediate, tangible outcomes over the boundless potential of exploration, experimentation, and innovation. Students, scholars, and individuals in nascent professional roles frequently find themselves relegated to ancillary, supportive tasks. Experienced professionals are equally silenced by the constrictions of their career and life-paths. Their boundless creative potential and innovative prowess are often stifled and curtailed by entrenched hierarchies and rigid, pre-set expectations. 

Most creative endeavours are crafted with contemporary audiences at the forefront of consideration. However, as time inexorably progresses, these creations might gradually lose their inherent relevance and resonance unless they're actively engaged with, revisited, and rejuvenated. Popularity, often fickle and transient, frequently determines what endures and what fades.

Future Archaeologies is resolutely determined to challenge and alter this prevailing paradigm. Drawing primary inspiration from Jean Cocteau's pioneering communication ‘J’adresse l’an 2000’ from 1963, wherein he posed evocative questions to a distant future almost 4 decades away, the organisation is poised to foster an ongoing, dynamic dialogue with the generations of the morrow.