MIKHAIL KARIKISSurging Seas: Letters from the Future

Upon a tour of the exhibition Somos o Tempo [We are the Weather], Mikhail Karikis guides participants through climate modelling maps displaying risen sea levels around the world by year 2100. Imagining being present in the future, a hundred years from now, we will think about what would have brought us communally amidst states of calamity. Together, we will be addressing how the “discounting principle” - a planning tool utilised by virtually all major governments in the world - prioritises short term solutions, shockingly deeming future lives less valuable. The challenge remains: how do we think long term in a short term world? From the emerging conversations, selected phrases we see worth communicating to our present generation will be painted on placards, and displayed as part of the exhibition at Sismógrafo.

Mikhail Karikis (Thessaloniki, GR, 1975) lives between London and Lisbon. His work in the fields of moving image, sound, performance, and other media has been shown in the contemporary art biennials, museums and film festivals. Selected, in 2019 and 2016, to the Film London Jarman Award, UK, Karikis exhibits internationally, including: Lisboa Soa, PT (2022); 2nd Riga Biennial, LV (2020); Kochi-Muziris Biennale, IN (2016); British Art Show 8, UK (2015-2017); Steirischer Herbst, AT (2015); 5th Thessaloniki Biennale, GR (2015); 19th Biennale of Sydney, AU (2014); Mediacity Seoul/SeMA Biennale, Seoul, KR (2014); Videonale 14, Kunstmuseum Bonn, DE (2013); 2nd Aichi Triennale, JP (2013); Manifesta 9, BE (2012); Danish Pavilion, 54th Venice Biennale, IT (2011). His solo exhibitions have been presented at Carpintarias de São Lázaro, PT (2022); Tate Liverpool, UK (2020); Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, IT (2019); Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, UK (2019-2020); De la Warr Pavilion, UK (2019-2020); MORI Art Museum, Tokyo, JP (2019); Whitechapel Gallery, London, UK (2018-2019) and Turku Art Museum, FI (2018) among others. Karikis has released three solo music albums, performs as a musician and is runs the PhD programme at MIMA School of the Arts and Creative Industries.