Writer and associate director at Pier 24, Allie Haeusslein guides us through the artistic highlights of the shape-shifting city

Writer and associate director at Pier 24, Allie Haeusslein guides us through the artistic highlights of the shape-shifting city
Running until 30 June, the 2021 programme examines a provocative array of future(s) against the backdrop of Belfast
Antony Cairns, Lottie Davies, Thomas Brown, Florence Goupil, and River Claure all navigate the dystopia through both image and text
When Covid-19 forced cultural institutions to close, exhibitions and events migrated online. But how much of this has centred on the needs of disabled communities, who called for remote access long before the pandemic?
The France-based artists creates fictional narratives between the past and present by drawing on mythical and historical references while also aligning with the Afrofuturism movement.
Transhumanism is a philosophical movement devoted to the technological enhancement of the human condition. Does it pose a threat against humanity, or is this the next logical step in our evolution?
In this collection, we probe the debate surrounding the powers and ethics of some of these new and indeed, invasive technologies. How genetic modification might alter the makeup of entire ecosystems, for example. Or how humans are enhancing and modifying their bodies with new bio-limbs and sensors. And what about the biases in Artificial Intelligence, enough to rig elections and change government policy. Who is writing the codes and algorithms that will dictate our future way of life – are they to be trusted?
We also interrogate the digitisation of the image archive and the changing way we view photography – faster, smaller, louder. We look at how the image-makers of today react and innovate, creating work for an audience that is always connected. And, how photographers use digital media and the virtual space within their practice. You will find many compelling visual solutions in the Technology & Humanity Collection. You will also find that for many of the artists, these are inquiries that have only just started to unravel.