Ghosts of Futures Past

How does spirituality shape our search for meaning and connection in a rapidly changing world? The exhibition Ghosts of Futures Past – including the work of Jaasir Linger, MingJou Chen, Oscar Santillán, Saar Scheerlings, Sondi and Venus Jasper – delves into the connection between transformation and spirituality.

The title refers to a book by Molly McGarry, in which she explores how spiritualism in America was a way for people to cope with big changes in society. Activities like séances (calling spirits) were not only used to get closer to the afterlife, but also to deal with loss, trauma and fast adjustments.

Through the lens of philosopher Jacques Derrida’s concept of ‘hauntology’, Ghosts of Futures Past also explores how the past continues to linger in the present. The past behaves like a ghost that keeps reminding us of what once was and what could have been.

The artworks in Ghosts of Futures Past show a constant back-and-forth between the past, present and future. All artists use spirituality to respond to the changes of our era – such as the rise of artificial intelligence, our relationship with nature and non-human entities, our perception of the passing of time, and questions about gender and identity.

Read more about all the artworks here.

Ghosts of Futures Past is the third and last exhibition curated by Nadine van den Bosch for Garage Rotterdam.