top of page

Tales of the late Anthropocene

An exploration of three fictional value systems to cope in a black swan future

The age after the fossil dragon

Deep under the eternal ice of the north, an ancient creature was sleeping at peace with the universe. But when the ice began to melt, a new race for hidden treasures started and inflicted tears, pain, death, and destruction. Humans were greedy. They wanted to harness the dragon’s precious powers and they dug, deeper and deeper. 

katja_geoengineering_stormyweather__shiny_ea81edd3-13ec-4a31-ab86-61f857d0fa1e.png

Created with Midjourney

Disrupted by the noise and the itching of human tools, the fossil dragon* woke up, grumpy and confused. He carved his way to the surface and spewed. His smoky, sulphurous, and dusty breath made the sky turn black and the air became thick and heavy. Global warming went ice cold and the northern hemisphere was covered in snow again.

*Fossil dragon – a frequently used metaphor to describe a period of massive extraction of fossil resources after the arctic thaw. This led to increased methane and carbon emissions, Some nations turned to geo engineering to mitigate the impacts, but a volcanic erruption multiplied the cooling effect of artificial sulfur dioxide. A human made cold period in the Holocene was the consequence. Known as the big fuck-up.

How to exist in a world gone rouge?

Get to know 3 archetypes representing 3 societal value systems, engrained beliefs and coping strategies.

lichen.jpg

#collaboration #transcendence #spirituality 

Children of Entanglement

We believe in mother Gaia and the lichen is her messenger. We dream, we listen, we feel and we connect. We are many, we are one.

Screenshot 2023-01-09 at 13.14.33.png

#growth #transformation #technology

Carbon Wizards

Quarterly reports have shown that our performance on carbon capturing reached its peak. Sulfur dioxide seems to yield bigger potential right now.

custodian.jpg

#control #safety #knowledge

Crop Custodians

Our duty is to prevent humanity from repeating its mistakes from the past. We cannot trust in good will, we need to make sure that environmental progress is not at risk.

IMG_8737.jpeg
P1010289_web.jpg
IMG_8879_web.jpg

What can we learn from
these worlds, today?

Arctic Futures

©Katja Budinger
This project was created as part of an artist residency at 
the Arctic Circle 
and supported by the Andrea von Braun Stiftung. 

 

  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram

©2023 by Arctic Futures. Created with Wix.com

bottom of page