workshop positive futuring
Solarpunk is a growing science-fiction genre of eco-social stories about a utopian future. In this workshop we will use this genre to think deeply about a positive future. In about four hours we will explore solarpunk, practice thought-experiments with the future and create our own object.
Most of science-fiction is dystopian. Books, films and games take place in dark worlds where an untouchable elite holds all the power and most people can barely survive. Challenged by one individual that stands up against all the odds.
SOLARPUNK
Solarpunk is utopian. Colourful worlds filled with water coloured greens and organic shapes with dynamic streaks. Where people are in constant interaction with nature and each other. Videogames where you build ecologies. Books in which drones 3D-print hostels that welcome everyone and novels about philosophical conversations between a human and a robot. Short stories about self-sufficient villages floating at sea and dreams in bio-luminescence. High-tech and traditional solutions go hand in hand in these worlds that centre around community.
Most of Solarpunk is speculative fiction. Her stories are an exploration of a (technically) possible future. What if we had already had a successful eco-social revolution; what would your world look like? What does your neighbourhood look like?
FUTURING
The future is a tricky place to really consider.
Episodic Future Thinking (Imaginable) is a method that is often used to really think yourself into the future and pre-experience it. We will be practicing this method. Together we will take a mental time trip into our own future. With our own circumstances, possibilities and emotions.
We will use the positive speculative fiction of solarpunk as the world of our future. We will have a stroll down our own neighbourhood
CREATE
One interesting moment or concept from your solarpunk future we will manifest by creating an object. This creative processing will challenge you to give a more detailed version of your earlier thoughts. These details often open up more to explore. By using paints, pencils, words and collaging materials you can create your own Solarpunk object. There are enough materials.
Would you like to experience a positive future with your department, team, art-collective or friend group? Please contact me
Fee €560 + expenses of €315 social fee + expenses
It is also possible to centre the workshop around a specific theme or a specific creative material. I can also create a show case with all the objects made.
| hours | Solarpunk workshop |
| 1 | Welcome |
| Solarpunk associations | |
| Solarpunk examples | |
| Solarpunk prinicipes | |
| 2 | Future is difficult |
| Episodic Future Thinking | |
| Mental time trip | |
| 3 + 4 | Create solarpunk object |
| Reflection | |
NEXT SOLARPUNK WORKSHOP
Universitiet Leiden 16 October De toekomst is solarpunk
Dutch Design Week Eindhoven Madlab 21 October Solarpunk de Buurt
EARLIER SOLARPUNK WORKSHOPS
Solarpunk workshop Landjuweel festival 2025 snippets
Solarpunk Museum Het Schip snippets
Solarpunk workshop in library Mercatorplein snippets
Solarpunk workshop Landjuweel festival 2024
Solarpunk workshop in libraby Mercatorplein snippets
Solarpunk the School kicking off a circular week schoolyard article
Solarpunk workshop at neighbourhood donut economy day snippets
Solarpunk workshop in library De Hallen snippets woorden in de leeshoek
Solarpunk de Buurt workshop in Kas Keerweer posters
Solarpunk workshop for XR Regenerative Circle
My solarpunk article in Elektor in English Nederlands French
Solarpunk art workshop at Landjuweel festival 2023
MORE SOLARPUNK
Short solarpunk stories van XR Wordsmiths ENG
Solarpunk art collection Andrewism 2023 Bioregions
A Solarpunk Manifesto: Turning Imaginary into Reality essay
The Weight of Light: A Collection of Solar Futures book