Mapping the Anthropocene: hopeful futures?

Mapping the Anthropocene: hopeful futures? is a creative programme exploring the role of data and mapping to make things visible, particularly in the context of the climate emergency.Mapping is a method to understand complex systems, relationships and power structures.

Curated by humanities researcher Dr Inge Panneels, featuring artwork by artist Lise Autogena and Joshua Portway and platforming at Inspace, Mapping the Anthropocene will specifically engage with mapping as a way of understanding abstract climate change data and to reflect on how economics, the environment, data and technology intertwine and crossover.This programme launches in Inspace this November and is part of the 2026 Festival of Social Science and Being Human Festival.The Exhibition will showcase new interpretations of two works by Autogena and Portway: HavObservatoriet – Edinburgh, and Drip – 115.2205 ml/hr.HavObservatoriet – Edinburgh (Sea Observatory Edinburgh) is a dynamic visualisation of the real-time sea conditions around every oil rig in Scotland, shown across the Inspace City Screens.

Drip – 115.2204 ml/hr is a physical installation within the venue; a computer-controlled pump will drip oil from the ceiling of the exhibition space so that the gallery fills with oil at precisely the same rate that the global sea level is rising.

The works will be visible on Inspace City Screens, in the venue during the day, and along the streetscape during the dark November evenings.