The Future is Open marks the 20th anniversary of Solstice Arts Centre, and its continued commitment to showcasing and commissioning contemporary Irish artists. The Future is Open is a celebration of future possibilities. Taking its title from the last sentence spoken by theoretical physicist, Professor Fay Dowker, in Grace Weir’s film ‘Time Tries All Things’, this exhibition brings together a selection of previously exhibited artists, whose work explores expansive theories of space, time and the cosmos, embracing ancient and technological ciphers of prophetic divination as a means for understanding the human experience in the post-human era of AI and global climate crises.

Throughout history, mankind has looked to celestial bodies, deities and the natural world for spiritual guidance, enlightenment and instruction. In Ancient Greek astronomy, the practice of reading the skies through asterisms was relied on for navigation. In Ancient Rome, augury was the widespread sacred practice of observing the migratory flight patterns of birds, to interpret omens from the gods.

Today, AI predictive systems have replaced mystical practices as the definitive speculative prognostic in contemporary society.

In this exhibition, alternative environments and future realities are presented through a cross-section of photography, film, sculptural installation and painting.

Each artwork represents an enquiry into the great unknown - an exploration of the outer regions of space and the universe - and to micro-cosmic revelations within our natural environment. Objects, materials and nonhuman actors become instrumentalised to act as portals to other worlds; divine soothsayers that illuminate the path to navigate this current moment and future reality.

As part of The Future is Open, a daily film programme of moving-image work will be screened in the galleries, with films by Bassam Issa Al-Sabah, Willie Doherty, Mark Garry, Patrick Hough, Barbara Knežević, Niamh McCann and Grace Weir.

Artists: Bassam Issa Al-Sabah, George Bolster, Alan Butler, Cecilia Danell, Willie Doherty, Rachel Doolin, Mark Garry, Hammerheads (Marie Farrington, Sibyl Montague, Liliane Puthod, Laura Ní Fhlaibhín), Elaine Hoey, Patrick Hough, Bernadette Kiely, Sinéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Niamh McCann, Eleanor McCaughey, Lucy McKenna, Isabel Nolan, Barbara Knežević, Emily Waszak, Grace Weir.