Utopias review – the centuries-old illusion of 'taking back control'

The Whitworth, ManchesterFrom Thomas More’s 1516 book to Hogarth’s French invasion plates and Simon Roberts’s Brexit posters, our quest for a future perfect world makes uncomfortable viewing Near the front of Thomas More’s 16th century book Utopia there is an illustration of a small island, dotted with rolling hills and populated with neat little castles; from the harbour a large ship sets off, presumably to conquer faraway lands and preach its vision of a perfect world. Looking down at this isolated kingdom on the day the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, I am reminded of another island that imagined its green and pleasant land as a glorious haven if it could only “take back control”. Centuries have passed since More set out his idealistic future, but our utopian dreams seem to have struggled to develop beyond a desire to own a small patch of the planet where private castles can be maintained, and a particular culture can be protected and promoted.At the dawn of Brexit, Utopias at the Whitworth in Manchester draws together art, literature and maps from a range of sources and artists to try to work out why the search is still on for a land flowing with milk and honey. Because, despite the fact “utopia” famously derives from the Greek ou-topos and means “no place”, the idea of a golden future is still a captivating concept. It was the main motivator behind Brexit – regardless of which way you voted – and if that nearly 50/50 vote is anything to go by, Brexit holds the key to why we’ll never find utopia; no one can agree on what it should look like. Continue reading…
Via: Utopias review – the centuries-old illusion of 'taking back control'