Recap: Hijacked Futures. Counter (Hi)stories and Complex Temporalities

Last week, the event “Hijacked Futures. Counter (Hi)stories and Complex Temporalities in Modern and Contemporary Art” took place at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, bringing together scholars and participants for two engaging days of discussion and exchange.

The program featured both a workshop and a roundtable that explored how futures are imagined, negotiated, and contested through artistic practices. Building on the premise that the future is always a fiction, the conversations addressed the potential of art to challenge dominant narratives, articulate alternative temporalities, and open up counter-(hi)stories beyond simplistic dystopian or utopian frameworks.

The roundtable included contributions from Noit Banai, Tonica Hunter, and Eva Kernbauer, whose perspectives sparked a lively and thought-provoking discussion among attendees. The exchange continued throughout the workshop session, which offered further space for collective reflection on complex temporalities in modern and contemporary art.

The event was co-organized by Barbara Reisinger (University of Applied Arts Vienna), Laura Bohnenblust (Heritage Studies, University of Vienna), and Thomas Moser (TU Vienna, New Design University).

We would like to warmly thank all speakers and participants for their insightful contributions and the stimulating conversations. Special thanks also go to everyone who attended and helped make this event such a dynamic and inspiring exchange.

The roundtable discussants: Laura Bohnenblust, Barbara Reisinger, Tonica Hunter, Noit Banai, and Eva Kernbauer.