I recently had the privilege of meeting Dr. Maya Van Leemput, the UNESCO Chair on Images of the Futures & Co-creation during her visit to Australia. Dr. Van Leemput’s pioneering research in the realm of futures conversations and her unique use of ‘media, arts, and design’ approaches have been transformative in expanding our perspectives on the future.
This is a short blog on some of my thoughts about what Dr. Van Leemput presented at the University of the Sunshine Coast in beautiful Mooloolaba, Australia. Thanks to Dr. Marcus Bussey for organizing.
“If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.”
― Nora Roberts
“It is easy to pretend that nobody can change anything, that society is huge and the individual is less than nothing. But the truth is individuals make the future, and they do it by imagining that things can be different.”
― Neil Gaiman, Art Matters: Because Your Imagination Can Change the World
It is an oft-repeated maxim that every study of the future is the study of ideas about the future. In our world of constant upheaval, unpredictability and turning points, exploring the future or futures becomes an intricate dance between imagination and innovation.
Disruption and change can invoke strong feelings. We can feel disoriented or out of control. But these waves of change with their transformative appeal will be stronger than any of our efforts to resist or deny or stop the wave. The power of conscious co-creation and our ability to imagine and shape the future becomes fundamental.
Images of the future are something I care very deeply about. As a professor at Tamkang University in Taiwan, I witnessed the power of visualizations and creating images of the future in the hands of thousands of my students. In the next ten to twenty years, these students will shape the trajectory of our world, and it was vital that they developed the ability to envision multiple alternative futures including the futures they desire. Their images serve as a means of questioning the present and expanding the spectrum of possibilities. It is a form of unlimited expression, of creating new worlds, vital to mental well-being and opening new spaces for imaginative play.
My research into images of the future is based on the foundation that images precede action. Images are more than just depictions; they are windows into the unknown, and keys to understanding the ever-changing world we live in. Images, whether described through words, drawings, pictures or any other medium can profoundly shape what we think is possible to achieve. They link our pasts, presents, and futures. They give us hope. Hope is not optimism. It is not a blind belief that things will get better, they may not. Hope invokes unity in our collective power for wanting change, it gives us motivation and resilience in the face of adversity (This is a topic for another blog!). We can now act from our goal – our hope – to drive our actions today.
To create my own spin on Stuart Candy, “Futures needs art and imagery. Art needs futures.” They are symbiotic in that they both draw upon each other to create new possibilities and enrich our understanding of the world. Art has the power to move people emotionally, to create a deep sense of connection and meaning through personal expression and collective understanding. Art allows us to see ourselves and envision our future selves through the stories, symbols, and imagery it presents.
While some might think the desired or preferable images of the future are not helpful, the key point here is about the ability to immerse oneself in a sensory, social, and embedded world where the creator can envision themselves and actively work toward realizing that vision. In essence, it’s a transformative process that bridges the gap between today’s realities and the aspirations of tomorrow.
In my years as a professor, I’ve witnessed how nurturing students’ abilities to visualize and design paths to their preferred futures can bring a kind of nourishment, a crack of light to follow, an empowering. This process involves encouraging students to explore their own images of the future, discuss them, question their assumptions and demanding new ways of framing.
Moreover, it’s crucial to promote a culture of co-creation and collaboration. This allows all of us to gain exposure to diverse perspectives, fostering a rich tapestry of ideas about what the future could hold. When students engage in these dialogues, they not only develop a deeper understanding of the future but also expand their capacity for empathy and open-mindedness.
We live in a world where change is the only constant. New technologies emerge, societies evolve, and global challenges demand innovative solutions. The ability to navigate these shifts, while simultaneously crafting a vision of the future, is an invaluable skill. My experience of engaging with Dr. Van Leemput’s work in images of the futures, combined with the fusion of art and futures thinking, illuminates a path toward a more vibrant and dynamic world.
As we continue to explore the vast landscape of images of the future, may we all become active participants in shaping the narratives that will define the world of our children and grandchildren. Disruption and change may be disorienting, but with the right tools, we can envision the future we want and work together to make it a reality.
I would love to hear your thoughts about your images of the future.
Dr. Jeanne Hoffman
Dr. Jeanne Hoffman is Chief Futurist of Anticipating Futures and co-editor of the World Futures Review. She is a recent graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Holding a bachelor’s degree in Russian Foreign Policy and Literature, a Master of Applied Economics and a PhD on the Futures of China, Dr. Hoffman has more than 20 years of experience as a university professor as well as leading major organizational change projects, strategic planning, business planning, risk management, performance management, and project management. From 2015-2023, she worked as a professor of Futures Studies and Diplomacy and International Relations and was the managing editor of the Journal of Futures Studies (2015-2021) at Tamkang University, Taiwan. In 2019, Dr. Hoffman was awarded Teacher of the Year by students’ and staff in recognition of her work to foster forward-thinking mindsets.
With memberships in Association of Professional Futurists, World Futures Society, Asia Pacific Futurists Network, Dr. Hoffman is an experienced speaker, writer, coach, and facilitator in areas such as strategic foresight leadership, futures thinking and literacy, design and anticipatory action learning. Dr. Hoffman’s area of interest includes education, artificial intelligence, urban futures, international affairs, macrohistory and organizational transformation.
If you are interested in the symbiotic nature between art, images and futures, World Futures Review will have a special edition curated by guest editors Dr. Marcus Bussey and Emily Jaworski on Art, Poetry and Futures coming out in March 2024.
