Imaginable Worlds: Art, Crisis, and Global Futures

Imaginable Worlds is a collection of essays that explores crises past, present, future, and speculative, using the COVID-19 pandemic and disaster as a framework for research and art. The volume brings together the voices of artists, authors, and public intellectuals from various fields and locations, including Suraj Yengde, Siyanda Mohutsiwa, and Ho Tzu Nyen, who critically engage with ideas and practices that engage with a partially known or unknown world.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 210 pages
Publication date: 23 June 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Imaginable Worlds is a captivating collection of essays that delves into the realms of crises past, present, future, and speculative, offering a fresh and creative perspective on these critical themes. The book begins with the shared experience of crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing global challenges posed by natural disasters. Recognizing the transformative power of tragedy, Imaginable Worlds transforms it into a framework for research and art, envisioning a shared world beyond the confines of a global emergency.

Produced by the Smart Museum of Art and the Projects/Processes essay collection series, an initiative launched by the Serendipity Arts Foundation in New Delhi, this volume brings together the voices of artists, authors, and public intellectuals from diverse fields and locations. Among the notable contributors to Imaginable Worlds are Suraj Yengde, recognized as one of the "25 Most Influential Young Indians" by GQ Magazine; Siyanda Mohutsiwa, the mastermind behind the viral hashtag #IfAfricaWasABar; and Ho Tzu Nyen, the acclaimed artist behind the ongoing Critical Dictionary of Southeast Asia project.

These diverse voices come together to critically engage with ideas and practices that navigate the partially known or unknown world. Through their essays, they explore questions of survival, resilience, and the potential for new modes of sensing, knowing, and dwelling. Imaginable Worlds invites readers to contemplate the complexities of our times and to imagine a future where crises are not merely challenges to be overcome but opportunities for growth and transformation.

The book is organized into four sections, each exploring a different aspect of the crisis landscape. The first section, "Crisis as Metaphor," examines how crises can be seen as metaphors for broader social and political issues. The second section, "Crisis as History," explores how historical crises have shaped our understanding of the world and influenced the development of contemporary societies. The third section, "Crisis as Practice," examines how artists, activists, and researchers are responding to crises and creating new ways of understanding and addressing them. The fourth section, "Crisis as Speculation," explores the possibilities and limitations of speculative fiction as a means of imagining and exploring the future of crises.

Throughout the book, the contributors offer insightful and thought-provoking perspectives on the various crises we face today. They challenge our assumptions, provoke our imagination, and inspire us to think critically about the world we live in. Imaginable Worlds is a valuable resource for scholars, artists, activists, and anyone interested in exploring the complex dynamics of crises and the potential for a more resilient and inclusive future.

In conclusion, Imaginable Worlds is a remarkable collection of essays that offers a fresh and creative perspective on crises past, present, future, and speculative. By transforming tragedy into a framework for research and art, the book encourages us to imagine a shared world beyond the confines of a global emergency. Through the diverse voices of artists, authors, and public intellectuals, Imaginable Worlds explores questions of survival, resilience, and the potential for new modes of sensing, knowing, and dwelling. This book is a valuable resource for scholars, artists, activists, and anyone interested in exploring the complex dynamics of crises and the potential for a more resilient and inclusive future.

Dimension: 146 x 210 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780935573664