How do we imagine the future? What other kinds of realities are possible? What would happen if time and space could bend, stop, or fast-forward? From Science Fiction, to Magical Realism, to Surrealism, artists, filmmakers, and writers have long turned to the fantastic to ponder these questions, using vivid creative stories and imagery to open portals into other worlds. Selected from the collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the artworks imaginatively investigate a wide variety of topics—from the relationship of humans to the natural environment to the whimsical lives of household objects.
In a time full of many big questions, unknowns, and shifts, the art of the fantastic offers an outlet to explore possibilities, re-invent worlds, and inspire curiosity. Instead of obstacles or limitations, the works in Fantastic Worlds encourage us to ask what if? And why not? These small but impactful questions emphasize wonder and discovery, offering potential pathways to help us see the world anew.
Curated by Robin Lynch
Curator/Manager of Travelling Exhibitions Northwest
Feature image: K. Gwen Frank, Body and Soul, 1994, Etching, Aquatint on Paper, Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts
