The Faded Future Archive is a work reminiscent of an archive drawer. Inside it, the 3 boxes present contain archival folders with prints mounted on photographic cards. The archive / repository we created is a compilation of photos showing ruins of buildings from areas of intense conflict, from World War I to the present day. Apart from its form, it is quite a peculiar archive – without exact dates, descriptions, details; not arranged chronologically or geographically, with illegible and hidden information, random numbers and inaccurate dates. Our search for images was very broad; Belarus, Bosnia, France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Russia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Grenada, Indonesia, Irak, Japan, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UK, USA, Spain, Belgium, Hungary, Denmark, Gaza, Serbia. But the country does not matter. On the contrary, in the Faded Future Archive one can browse through the whole world’s ruins without considering their origin and geographical location. The importance does not fall neither on the photographic reproduction or strict representation of the place and landscape, nor its place on the timeline of human history. All images are presented with uniform characteristics, the same technique, the same washed out aesthetic.

In a way, we built a chaotic collection of constantly recurring todays; timeless ruins as eternally repeating products of human presence. Our book reflects on the concept of a beautiful future; is it as alluring as we imagine?

The Faded Future Archive contains more than 100 images, hand printed by the artists by means of gum bichromate contact printing. The prints are made on Fabriano Rosaspina 220gsm, Arches 300gsm and Hahnemuhle Bamboo papers. The mounting cards are printed via the serigraphy process. Commercial and hand cut stamps were used. Other materials: cardboard, bookbinding fabric, paper, ribbon, metal closure, archival glue, Favini Remake 180gsm paper, Arjowiggins CLK 280gsm paper.