A Proposal

Hope Ahead Of Schedule

Mar 16, 2026

If speculative narratives influence how we imagine and build the future, then cultural practitioners working in this genre must recognise the power their work holds. ‘Hope Ahead of Schedule’ borrows its title from a phrase by the visionary American concept artist Syd Mead, who coined the term “reality ahead of schedule”, to describe the process of science fiction informing science fact.

There will always be a need for social commentary and dystopian warnings, but in an increasingly unstable world I believe it is vital to also articulate hopeful visions of the future. I take solace in the quiet power of intimate human interaction and would like to imagine a future where kindness and compassion are the primary drivers in decision making.

Well, I wrote all that for an open call that I was applying to before the 28th February 2026. The stakes seem a little higher now, but I still believe we need to protect our creativity and try to imagine new horizons that aren’t quite so full of materialism and bloodshed.

IN MY MIND’S EYE

The work unfolds within a vast industrial warehouse space. I enter this space alone and without technological devices. The lighting is exquisite. The only sound is the gentle beating of hearts. As my eyes adjust to the ambient light, bodies gradually emerge within the space. Suspended from the ceiling, cameras with macro lenses project various parts of these bodies onto large screens, magnifying them in real time. I see eyes and ears, mouths and noses, hands, ankles, nipples, hair, skin, nails. Bodies of different ages and abilities stand dispersed throughout the space, each holding stethoscope microphones to their chest. As they stand motionless, speechless, just breathing and being, a collective meditation takes place. The work demands engagement. Slowly the bodies begin to express hopes and dreams for the future. A softly spoken vision of optimism, peaceful and serene. In conclusion the bodies move towards a gesture of physical closeness, before an usher re-enters to remind me my time is up. Just ten minutes have passed and I am led back out of the space, leaving behind the bodies as they return to their places.