Perpetual Uncertainty

Perpetual Uncertainty is an exploration of contemporary art in the nuclear Anthropocene. The exhibition brings together international artists from across Europe, the USA and Japan to investigate experiences of nuclear technology, radiation and the complex relationship between knowledge and deep time.

The nuclear Anthropocene describes how man-made radiation has contaminated the earth, forming a mark of human activity that will last for hundreds of thousands of years. Whilst 20th century fallout provides a time-stamp of the first nuclear age from nuclear weapons testing, the 21st century repositories for high-level radioactive waste will physically create a new geologic layer in the earth’s fossil record for over 100,000 years. Looking beyond the modernist vision of a utopian nuclear age, contemporary artists are engaging with the lived experience of radiation through nuclear objects, architectures and landscapes. Investigating new forms of nuclear vernacular, folklore and rethinking the markers and archives of the nuclear Anthropocene.

A larger program on Nuclear Culture activities will accompany the exhibition, including field trips to nuclear sites with artists, and a roundtable discussion on November 17th bringing together different experiences and approaches to nuclear aesthetics and politics.

Participating artists: James Acord, Shuji Akagi, Lise Autogena and Joshua Portway, Nick Crowe and Ian Rawlinson, Finger Pointing Worker, Dave Griffiths, Isao Hashimoto, Erika Kobayashi, David Mabb, Cécile Massart, Eva and Franco Mattes, Yelena Popova, Susan Schuppli, Shimpei Takeda, Kota Takeuchi, Thomson & Craighead, Suzanne Treister, Andy Weir, Robert Williams and Bryan McGovern Wilson, Ken + Julia Yonetani.

Perpetual Uncertainty forms part of the Nuclear Culture curatorial research project initiated by Ele Carpenter with support from Arts Catalyst and Goldsmiths University of London. The Nuclear Culture project promotes exchange and cooperation between artists, experts, and scientists through artists field trips to nuclear locations in Europe and Japan, commissions of new works of art, exhibitions, round table discussions, publications, and lectures.

Perpetual Uncertainty is produced by Bildmuseet, Umeå University, Sweden, with the support of Z33 and Arts Catalyst London.              
Curator: Ele Carpenter
nuclear.artscatalyst.org

About Z33
Since 2002, Z33 has been fashioning cutting-edge projects and exhibitions with a strong research based approach. It is a unique laboratory and a meeting place for experiment and innovation. We create interdisciplinary projects at the crossing of art, design, science and research. Z33 does not have its own collection of works, but accommodates temporary exhibition shows continuously. In addition to the exhibitions at Z33 House for Contemporary Art, Z33 also organises projects in the open space, as well as projects commissioned by other organisations. The basis for our exhibitions are set in different Research Studio’s (Studio Time, Studio Space and Studio Work) where each studio combines different projects, including artistic development and production, research fellowships, residencies, exhibitions.