Gulf Futurism

The future has always been at the centre of artistic practice and this evening we explore the ideas and impulses behind Gulf Futurism.

The term 'Gulf-Futurism' was coined by Qatari American artist and writer Sophia Al-Maria and Kuwaiti composer and artist Fatima Al Qadiri. It interrogates the region's hyper-modernisation and industrialisation, arrival at a late-stage capitalist colonial imaginary, and the betrayal of local cultures.

Combining science fiction and history alongside the agency to explore counter culture, Gulf Futurism creates a critical framework to explore the region today. As Al Maria tells us, "One of the most ancient ways of living came head-on against extreme wealth and capitalism - glass and steel against wool and camels. There's been a quantum leap and there's a temporal gap. The two things have been stitched together and there's a missing piece of history. Our idea of Gulf Futurism began to coagulate with that idea".

Join us as we explore the ideas behind Gulf Futurism, as we look forward to the opening of Farah Al Qasimi's exhibition 'Abort, Retry, Fail' at Art Exchange this autumn.

Image: ‘The Green Light’ (2021) by Ahaad Alamoudi, from New Contemporaries, Camden Art Centre, 2024