Reimagining the future: Kairos Futura's Space Stations
Lamu Space Station, Photography: Joseph Nabster Chege
In recent decades, space and technology have captured our imagination as we dreamed of exploring new frontiers and conquering the unknown. However, with the increasingly apparent impacts of climate change, many now recognise the urgent need to prioritise finding solutions to our planet's challenges rather than escaping to new ones.
Despite almost six decades of human-crewed spaceflight, the idea of living outside of Earth remains far-fetched for the majority of people. Nonetheless, initiatives such as Kairos Future are emerging to promote a different approach to the future. Kairos Futura is a network of established and emerging artists, activists, design thinkers, and local organisations worldwide that help prototype and implement community visions and local solutions for the social and environmental issues we face.
In a critique of the idealised future and the high-tech dream of colonising Mars, Kairos Future has created Space Stations as a new holistic perspective. Through an artistic lens, the collective challenges the dominant narrative of space and technology as the only way forward, reminding us that we have the power to shape our future here on Earth. Kairos Futura's Space Stations have a fresh vision that focuses on finding creative and more sustainable solutions to humanity's challenges with local resources rather than solely relying on technological advancements.
Through their Space Stations in multiple cities, the organisation promotes culturally-inspired solutions to reimagine the future and find ways to live harmoniously with nature. With this approach, Kairos Futura transforms our collective imagination, offering a more grounded, connected, and sustainable vision for the future.
Lamu Space Station, Photography: Joseph Nabster Chege
Lamu Space Station
Lamu Island, located in the northern part of the Lamu Archipelago off the coast of Kenya, is a picturesque destination known for its traditional Swahili architecture, beaches and rich history. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the island's economy relies on fishing and tourism, attracting visitors to its cultural heritage and relaxed atmosphere.
However, like many other coastal areas and islands, Lamu Island faces ecological challenges due to human activities, with waste management being a significant issue. Dumped waste in the ocean, beaches or surrounding forests can harm wildlife, contribute to soil and water contamination, and affect human health.
Concerned about the ecological problems on the island, Kairos Futura director and conceptual artist US-born Ajax Axe collaborated with Kenyan artists M.T. Shariff, Lincoln Mwangi, Abdul Rop, Anna Mokeira, Onesmus Mangi, Shizemonize, and Patrick Mwangi to create the Lamu Space Station. The project aims to give voice to local artists from the archipelago and young contemporaries from the capital of Nairobi. Through the transformative power of art in the face of the environmental crisis, their works promote ecological conservation.
At the Lamu Space Station, artists imagine new stories for their community and challenge the idea that humans must leave Earth for Mars when it becomes uninhabitable. Instead, their works, surrounded by the island's natural beauty and gentle rhythm, encourage us to reflect on the fragility of our ecosystem as the industrial world infringes upon it.
When the Space Station's group of artists began clearing an abandoned house on Lamu, they faced an overwhelming task. They worked tirelessly under the hot sun for two and a half weeks, hacking away at overgrown flora and clearing piles of discarded waste. Undeterred, the collective disposed of bags and bags of plastics every day, digging in with a renewed sense of purpose.
Lamu Space Station, Photography: Joseph Nabster Chege
Nairobi Space Station
“The Nairobi Space Station is not about escaping to another planet, but about creating a more sustainable and livable city for our community.”
Kairos Futura is set to unveil its newest initiative, the Nairobi Space Station, on March 18th at the Nairobi Design Week. Led by directors Abdul Rop, Lincoln Mwangi, and Ajax Axe, the artists, designers, and scientists team aims to bring creative and sustainable solutions to Nairobi. The initiative focuses on ecological issues and rebuilding inner-city areas to create a more sustainable city for the community. The team is dedicated to developing imaginative solutions that improve the environment, promote biodiversity, and enhance the quality of life for those living in informal settlements.
Working with community partners and organisations, the ten-member team and over 100 volunteers plan initiatives and workshops with maximum impact in areas where artists collaborate. Some of the initiatives of the Nairobi Space Station include creating guerrilla green spaces in informal settlements, exploring innovative solutions for improving water quality, creating an indigenous tree seed bank, offering experiential learning opportunities for imagining the future of Nairobi, and restoring inner-city areas to promote biodiversity and improve the health of local ecosystems, particularly along the rivers in Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Mathare, Kibera, and Korogocho.
The Nairobi Space Station will run from March 18th to June 1st, with events occurring throughout the city.
Nairobi Space Station by Kairos Futura