World Futures
Exhibition
If you could build the future, what kind of future would you create? To mark the re-opening of the Arcade at Bush House, World Futures asked visitors to share their personal world vision and help shape the future, both of Bush House and of the world beyond it.
Image courtesy of Bogdan Frymorgen
In order to understand the future, it is important to be aware of the past. This interactive exhibition incorporated photographs by former BBC Studio Manager, Bogdan Frymorgen, that told the stories of life within Bush House, when it served as the headquarters of the BBC World Service until 2012. Many of the questions asked during the BBC’s time at Bush House are more relevant than ever today: what information is to be trusted in a world of fake news? How can we make an impact in the current age of global insecurity? How can Bush House continue to inspire, engage and cultivate conversation?
World Futures asked these questions, inviting visitors to reflect on their own lives and on those being played out across the world.
Image credit: Kate Anderson
What kind of future would you like to be a part of?
Visitors were invited to contribute to World Futures by writing and drawing their visions of the future on cards, which were then displayed as part of the installation.
More than 500 King's students, staff and public shared their thoughts and ideas, which covered themes such as inequality, the environment, education, economy, healthcare and culture. Examples of ideas include a future in which:
- 'Everyone has equal opportunity'
- 'Sustainability is a given in all we do'
- 'Books are free. #freebooksforall'
- 'Wealth is not used to determine social value'
- 'Excellent healthcare is available in every single place on Earth'
- 'People break out into song and dance at random hours of the day'
BABEL NEWS
As part of World Futures, BABEL NEWS was a sound-and-vision-scape created by Dr Milena Michalski, a King's artist in the Department of War Studies, which combined abstract moving images with audio material reflecting the BBC World Service, in particular the emergence of the public voice.
The free installation was part of a discrete project, Influencing the world, listening to the world: the emergence of the public voice, involving Prof James Gow, Dr Milena Michalski, Dr Peter Busch, Jayne E. Peake within the Department of War Studies at King's.
It was part of the work associated with the AHRC-funded Art and Reconciliation: Conflict, Culture and Community, a major collaborative project led by Dr Rachel Kerr in the Department of War Studies, with partners at the LSE and University of the Arts. More information of the project can be found here.
About The Arcade at Bush House
The Arcade at Bush House, which opened in September 2017, is part of the King's Cultural Quarter, and is home to a varied programme of events, installations and exhibitions, offering a forum where students, the academic community and the public can engage with each other, as well as with artists and cultural partners. Also home to a welcoming café and the KCLSU Shop, The Arcade offers a direct connection with research and collaborative activity taking place across the university, and provides a new space on the Strand for conversation, reflection and engagement.
World Futures – Change is the only constant value was presented by King’s College London in collaboration with Bogdan Frymorgen and Studio Hato. It was supported by the university's Culture team.