The rise of solarpunk
A new world Tanya Combrinck explores the art movement focused on an optimistic vision of the future as a high-tech utopia that honours nature
At a time when the climate emergency appears increasingly desperate, it seems natural that much of our science fiction envisions our future as a grim, cyberpunk dystopia. But what if we actually stepped up and solved our problems? Some creators are imagining what that would look like, and the answer is solarpunk.
The solarpunk aesthetic revolves around architecture and infrastructure that works in concert with nature rather than against it. Clean, renewable energy sources are visible and blended with the living space, which is usually festooned with plant life and other natural elements. The Art Nouveau style often features in these utopian artworks, as
