The Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) is set to unveil Future Geographies: Art in the Century of Climate Change, an ambitious exhibition that seeks to reimagine climate futures beyond despair. Billed as the first major exhibition in Canada to explore the intersection of contemporary art and global future climates, the show runs from May 14, 2026, to January 10, 2027, at the VAG's location at 750 Hornby Street in Vancouver.
A Vision Long in the Making
The exhibition's concept had been percolating in the mind of Eva Respini, the VAG's interim co-CEO and curator-at-large, even before she joined the gallery. "I was seeing a lot of art that was making me think about our shared future on this planet," Respini explained. Some works were poetic, others urgent, and some leaned into science fiction. After moving from Boston in 2023, where she curated at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Respini felt Vancouver was the ideal setting for such a show. "Vancouver is where Greenpeace was founded. It’s known for its natural beauty, yet it’s also a province shaped by resource extraction."
Exhibition Highlights
Future Geographies features over 35 works, including immersive video installations, living sculptures, and pieces crafted from recycled materials. The exhibition is organized into four thematic sections: Living Knowledge, Consumed Earth, Speculative Worlds, and Material Memory. The latter showcases works focused on healing and recuperation.
Key Installations
- SANCTUARY: The Ancient Forest Experience: A geodesic dome on the fourth floor immerses visitors in two ancient forest ecosystems—the Inland Temperate Rainforest in the Kootenay region and Stal’Kaya (Dakota Bear Ancient Forest) on the Sunshine Coast. Created by ethnobotanist Dr. T’uy’t’tanat Cease Wyss, filmmaker Damien Gillis, and Olivier Leroux in 2021, the installation uses sounds of waterfalls and birds to recreate the forest environment.
- Vertigo Sea (2015): This acclaimed three-channel video installation by Ghanaian artist John Akomfrah makes its Vancouver premiere. It montages archival and new footage into a meditation on the fishing industry, connecting hyper-local issues to global themes.
- Impending Fire Storms 2024: An acrylic on canvas work from the VAG collection, highlighting the urgency of climate-related disasters.
Art as a Platform for Hope
Respini acknowledges that climate change may not dominate headlines amid other global crises, but the exhibition aims to create a space for imagination and hope. "Artists aren’t journalists or scientists, but they ask questions. They allow us to think differently, to approach a topic in a way that leaves room for hope and imagination," she said. The show is designed to be open-ended, encouraging visitors to reflect on shared futures without being overly didactic.
Future Geographies runs until January 10, 2027. For more information, visit the VAG website.
