ART 2030 Presents ‘Future Ours’: Public Art Exhibition for UN Summit of the Future in 2024

A part of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Global Goals, ART 2030 unveils a new public exhibition, 'Future Ours.' Set against the backdrop of New York City and co-curated by Patricia Domínguez, Hans Ulrich Obrist, and Jeppe Ugelvig, 'Future Ours' is a large-scale public art project showcasing contemporary artists' visions of a sustainable future.

Launching during what is widely regarded as the most crucial United Nations General Assembly in generations, 'Future Ours' will be presented inside the United Nations Headquarters from September 13-29 and along the bustling streets of New York from September 16-29, 2024. This exhibition will transform the city's ubiquitous advertising spaces into a gallery without walls, showcasing the work of 21 artists and collectives from around the globe on hundreds of JCDecaux bus shelters throughout the five boroughs.

Yinka Shonibare CBE's 'African Food Sustainability II' and Olafur Eliasson's 'You are solar powered' installation (at top) are among the influential and mesmerizing pieces that will be on display. After its New York debut, the exhibition will travel to Denmark in 2025 for the Kunsthal Charlottenborg Biennale.

'Future Ours' finds parallels with fashion's eco-conscious movement. The exhibition's focus on addressing climate disasters and resource conflicts aligns with the industry's growing emphasis on ethical production and consumption.

Luise Faurschou, founder and CEO of ART 2030, emphasizes the exhibition's timeliness: "While our future is marked by pressing environmental and societal emergencies, we stand at an opportune moment for transformative change. These artworks offer a diversity of moments for reflection and inspiration, to foster dialogue and action in a moment when it is needed most."

Bypassing traditional art spaces, 'Future Ours' opts instead for a direct dialogue with the public. This approach resonates with fashion's current love affair with designers messaging authenticity and community. Artists like Maya Lin, whose 'What is Missing?' foundation merges art with environmental activism, are revolutionizing art and fashion landscapes.

Lin states, "Through my nonprofit foundation 'What is Missing?' we utilize art to show how we can both save species and reduce climate emissions by changing our working relationship with natural systems. Our message is one of hope for people and the planet – Nature can save us, if we protect and restore Nature."

Just as Fashion Week brings together perspectives from around the world, 'Future Ours' presents reflections on global sustainability. From the Congolese Plantation Workers Art League to the Institute of Queer Ecology, the exhibition offers perspectives that could inspire designers for seasons to come.

The co-curators explain, "'Future Ours' seeks out visions for our planet's future by leveraging the medium of the billboard. In response to current social crises and ecological disasters, 'Future Ours' disperses artistic enterprise into unexpected spaces to generate new encounters in the vast public realm of the commercial."

As 'Future Ours' prepares to shine in New York, this isn't only an exhibition, it's a glimpse into tomorrow's world, today. Initiated by ART 2030 and Kunsthal Charlottenborg in partnership with JCDecaux, it's a testament to the power of art in shaping our collective future. For more information, visit the ART 2030 website.