What are the stories that are shaping our world? Is there agency in storytelling? Histories and visions of the future are often bound to strong storytelling, and as we begin to understand the importance of these stories in shaping our environments, can we make their narratives more strategic? Can fiction become a planning tool?

Our habitat has not missed the opportunity to become the protagonist of visionary narratives since the early days of speculative fiction, with “Metropolis” the first feature length science-fiction film being produced in 1927. The plot and spectacular scenography for its time, warned of a dystopian future built on the class struggle of an endless city; and as our post-truth reality approaches these centennial nightmares of oppression, vertigo, and mirror facades, could there be a way to envision aspirations that will fuel our common future instead of crafting warnings which end up being our contemporary dystopia?

The time-moderated discussion is built on an informal conversation, integrating short presentations from four contemporary practices which are active at the intersection of art and design, with an emphasis on investigating the visionary and ephemeral. The presentations span between 10 and 20 minutes each, allowing for interjections and followed by an open discussion between the participants.

Guest speakers

Driant Zeneli is a contemporary artist working primarily in film, giving a glimpse into his research on the redefinition of the idea of failure, utopia and dream as the elements that open possible alternatives.

Parasite 2.0 is an interdisciplinary collective based in Milan and London; which investigates the status of human habitats, acting within a hybrid of architecture, design and scenography.

Natalija Paunić is an independent curator from Belgrade and one of the founders of the nomadic curatorial platform Voždovačka galerija; which explores the notions of fiction and trust.

Bedwyr Williams is a Welsh artist whose work often draws upon the quirky banalities of his own autobiographic existence, merging art and life with a comedic twist that is sympathetic and relational.

Moderated by

Elian Stefa is an independent curator and architectural researcher based in Tirana.  From 2019 he directs Galeria e Bregdetit, an independent space by the sea in the south of Albania, while he continues his territorial research with ARTiLERIA Sazan. Elian is a fellow of the Future Architecture Platform, and has previously participated at the Albanian Pavilion at the 13th Architecture Venice Biennale with Concrete Mushrooms, a project which transforms Albania’s abandoned bunkers into attractions which demystify the communist territorial legacy in Albania.



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