An immersive exhibition that brings together art, climate thinking and technology in a way that feels calm, hopeful and interesting
Lowry’s Developed With programme supports another artist’s ambitious new work to develop The Guardians of Living Matter. Created by multidisciplinary artists John Paul Brown and Sophy King, the exhibition brings together art, climate research and technology in a way that feels open and easy to engage with. Giving an alternative to a lecture about the environment, it offers a clear and thoughtful idea of what the future might look like if we chose to work differently.
Set in the year 2076, The Guardians of Living Matter imagines a world where humans work alongside non human intelligence rather than trying to control it. The central anchor of the exhibition is a large scale living sculpture made from mycelium, housing artificial intelligence. A unique and attention grabbing piece that draws your eyes. It introduces the exhibition’s main ideas around connection, shared systems and repair, while also setting the tone for everything that follows.
One of the exhibition’s biggest strengths is how immersive it feels without ever becoming too much. The spaces reference imagined research labs and future environments, but they remain simple to move through. You are not pushed along a set route or expected to absorb everything at once. Instead, the experience feels flexible. You can stop to read, sit with certain ideas, or just move through the space and absorb the atmosphere. That freedom makes the exhibition feel like your own journey to experience it’s creators’ vision.
The use of mycelium works particularly well. Both visually and conceptually, it becomes a thread running through the exhibition. As underground fungal networks that support and connect plant life, mycelium acts as a clear metaphor for integrated systems of care. The idea is never over explained. It sits in the background, gently reinforcing the message that survival depends on cooperation.
Artificial intelligence is approached with the same level of care. Rather than leaning into fear based narratives, AI is presented as something that could support regeneration if developed responsibly. This feels refreshing, especially at a time when conversations around technology are often framed as environmentally disastrous. Here, AI exists alongside natural systems, suggesting balance rather than conflict.
Personally, I found The Guardians of Living Matter exciting and genuinely different from many other climate focused exhibitions. It avoids guilt and doom, choosing instead to optimistically focus on possibility. That shift matters. Rather than feeling drained or lectured, I left feeling energised and open to the ideas being explored. It is the kind of exhibition that sparks conversation without pushing a specific conclusion.
What works especially well is the balance between big ideas and warmth. Climate crisis, artificial intelligence and non human intelligence are complex subjects, but Brown and King present them in a way that feels clear and approachable. The result is an exhibition that feels thoughtful without being inaccessible, and hopeful without tipping into naivety.
The Guardians of Living Matter is a strong addition to Lowry’s contemporary programme. It is a reminder of how powerful art can be when it draws on research and imagination while staying grounded. For anyone interested in contemporary work, environmental thinking, or simply seeing something that feels fresh and considered, this exhibition is well worth spending time with. It offers a vision of the future that feels calm, collaborative and reassuring, which feels especially welcome right now.