Of course, writing novels about the future doesn’t give me any special ability to foretell the future. But it does encourage me to use our past and present behaviors as guides to the kind of world we seem to be creating. The past, for example, is filled with repeating cycles of strength and weakness, wisdom and stupidity, empire and ashes. To study history is to study humanity. And to try to foretell the future without studying history is like trying to learn to read without bothering to learn the alphabet.
Octavia E. Butler
Artist Statement
Octavia Butler’s quote powerfully reflects the recurring cycles of civilization: “The past, for example, is filled with repeating cycles of strength and weakness, wisdom and stupidity, empire and ashes.” This poster responds with bold typography shifting in and out of focus with time. These dualities are presented side by side, linked by a looping ampersand that suggests continuity and tension. The composition and color palette draw inspiration from Corita Kent, pairing a vibrant orange with its complementary blue.
