Solar ~ solarpower and other renewables, the power of nature and a sunny future
punk ~ against the current dominant culture
To me solarpunk is about a future that combines low- and high- tech opportunities for us to live a better life. It is about community and caring, it is about taking part and being part. In this future our experience of nature and our capability to grow things is more important. Growing biology, growing community, growing ourselves. Let’s all move into the good life.
Most science-fiction takes place after the apocalypse but this science-fiction takes place after we fix everything. We had the green revolution, we’ve made the world a fair and equal place. It is the therapeutic ‘miracle question’ “What if tonight a miracle happened and you woke up in your ideal life? What would that life look like?” but on a societal scale. Imagine that the biggest pressures on our society (climate crisis, inequality) have been resolved. What would that life look like? I think it would look solarpunk.
Solarpunk has the natural swirls of the Arts and Crafts movement, happy water colours with a lot of vibrant blue and greens and the magic of Studio Ghibli. There is a growing body of stories and visuals that take place in this imaginary future and the more we make in this space, the more we solidify the dream.
I think it is important that we spend some time in this future, so that we can see our way to it. To help this happen I organise solarpunk readings and creative workshops. If you are interested in this, please get in touch.
Article on Solarpunk I wrote for Elektor magazine:
Announcement of Solarpunk art workshop at Landjuweel festival 2022:
XR Solarpunk stories: https://www.solarpunkstorytelling.com/