Planetary Conditions 2126: Art Across Climate, Exploitation, Colonial Legacies and Care

Panelists:
Anab Jain, exhibition Superflux, The Craftocene at WMW
Nabukenya Allen, exhibition Njola Impressions. Kiteezi! at Theseus Temple (from 29.05.26)
Indah Arsyad, exhibition The Ultimate Breath at WMW (participating remotely)
Klima Biennale Wien 

Moderation:
Sithara Pathirana, Festival Director Klima Biennale Wien
Stella Asiimwe, curator Njola Impressions. Kiteezi!, Weltmuseum Wien 

How do we want to live in the year 2126 – and what new ways of thinking and acting do we need to adopt today to make that happen? Four artistic positions from Uganda, Bolivia, Indonesia, and India/the UK offer perspectives on care, responsibility, and resilience in times of climate crisis and global inequality.

At the intersection of design, art, and decolonial practice, the panel discusses ways to move beyond exploitation and destruction—and critically examines how new approaches such as “More-than-Human” can be reconciled with the historical burdens of ethnological collections without reproducing old narratives. Between speculation and reality, a space emerges for new narratives beyond exploitation—towards an ecology of care.

A panel as a reality check: Who is talking about the future—and whose knowledge, whose history, and whose practices are being made visible?

 

Anab Jain grew up in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India where she studied filmmaking at the National Institute of Design. She co-founded the award-winning studio Superflux in London, one of the first studios to pioneer speculative design, critical foresight, design fiction and experiential futures for businesses. The exhibition Superflux, The Craftocene explores how craftsmanship, technology, and ecological intelligence can be combined to create new forms of coexistence.

Allen Nabukenya, known by her artist name Njola, is a Ugandan artist, fashion designer, environmental activist and founder of the sustainable label Njola Impressions. Her work combines creative design with environmental awareness, transforming waste materials into unique, colourful and functional pieces. Her exhibition Njola Impressions. Kiteezi! at the Theseus Temple opens on 29 May 2026. From May to June, the artist will take part in the PART International Art Residency Austria in Vienna in cooperation with the Weltmuseum Wien.

The Indonesian media artist Indah Arsyad is a trained landscape architect and environmental technologist. In her exhibition The Ultimate Breath, she explores the themes of climate change, environmental destruction and pandemics, weaving together personal experience, scientific data and centuries-old mythologies in a multimedia installation that is both poetic and compelling.