The “What if…?” exhibition explores the intricate relationships between nature, technology, and society, presenting works that reflect on how these spheres intertwine and evolve. It is co-curated in collaboration with the Plants_Intelligence research project (SNSF 2022–2025) and features the final artworks created by the project team. The four-year research project "Plants_Intelligence. Learning Like a Plant," is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and based at the Institute Art Gender Nature (IAGN) at HGK Basel.

The exhibition is on view at Kornhausforum, Bern, Switzerland from November 27, 2025 until February 1, 2026. Opening: November 27, 2025.

‘What if...?’ – This question stimulates our imagination when we think about the future. Our present is characterised by instability, profound upheavals and global challenges such as climate change, wars and social and economic injustices. Amidst this uncertainty, artists, designers, architects and researchers are not only developing visions for a future worth living, but also drafting concrete proposals for action that offer us guidance in the present. Their ideas, perspectives and approaches form the core of the exhibition at the Kornhausforum. Starting from the fields of architecture, game and speculative design, and art, the exhibition presents visual and interactive investigations of possible visions of the future.

A focus of the works on display is dedicated to the complex relationships between nature, technology and society. Special attention is paid to the interaction between plants, humans and machines. In doing so, the exhibition also questions the prevailing view of humans as the centre of all existence – and follows the principle of more-than-human thinking.

The result is a space in the Kornhausforum that invites visitors to take a hopeful look at the future and encourages them to consciously engage with change. With this exhibition, we want to inspire wonder, broaden horizons and initiate a dialogue about the future.

Despite the unsettling present, let yourself be fascinated by exciting possibilities for the future – an experience for the whole family.

Exhibitors:

«Plants_Intelligence», Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst Basel FHNW, mit Yvonne Volkart, Felipe Castelblanco, Maurice Maggi, Julia Mensch, Rasa Smite & Raitis Smits
Caroline von Gunten & Evgenij Gottfried
Christoph Tim Schneider (Sammlung Hochschule der Künste Bern)
Jakub Nepras (Sammlung videokunst.ch)
Juliana Schneider
Lauren Huret
Lutz & Guggisberg
Martina Morger
Michael Langoth (Ursula Blickle Archiv)
Mika Taanila
Peter Aerschmann
Philip Loskant
Philipp Schaerer & Studierende
Studierende des Masterstudiengangs Eco Social Design, Hochschule Luzern, Design, Film & Kunst
Superflux (Anab Jain & Jon Ardern & Team)

More information:
https://kornhausforum.ch/de/ausstellung/was-waere-wenn-vom-spekulieren-hoffen-und-handeln-fuer-die-zukunft/