Our top picks for August span London and Dover, to Berlin and the woodlands of Japan. They are a perfect reminder that art is a tool for change, advocacy and activism. They call for more to be done to protect our planet in the face of ecological destruction, imagining what the future looks like without positive climate action, as well as reflecting on identity and sexuality. Each show is timely and urgent. A ground-breaking video installation at Fort Burgoyne presents an instruction manual for a future marred by human destruction; teamLab鈥檚 annual immersive experience in Kyushu, Japan, urges harmony with nature; whilst Attenborough Arts Centre showcases how creatives communicate moments of international crisis. Elsewhere, Samet Durgun documents LGBTQIA+ refugees and asylum seekers in Berlin, and Michael Hoppen Gallery brings together some of the most influential names in photography.听
Fort Burgoyne, Dover | Until 31 August
Finnish video artist Nastja S盲de R枚nkk枚 invites viewers to engage with a world on the brink of societal and environmental breakdown. R枚nkk枚鈥檚 pioneering work has earned her acclaim across Europe, including Young Artist of the Year in 2019 and the Below Zero Art Prize in 2023.听听Survival Guide for a Post-Apocalyptic Child,听which has its UK premiere at Fort Burgoyne, Dover, features 26 videos that act as a manual for the next generation. The installation blends universal human experiences, like love and heartbreak, with real-life threats such as climate breakdown and dystopian themes including zombies. Together, they prompt audiences to ask important questions about a precarious collective future: what should we remember about the present? What should we pass on? How can we dream up new ways of living?听听
Attenborough Arts Centre, Leicester | Until 19 October
In an era marked by instability on multiple fronts 鈥 the climate crisis, global conflicts, genocide, mass migration and the legacy of western imperialism 鈥撎We Grown-Ups Can Also Be Afraid听explores how artists examine these fears. Those featured are diverse in their themes and approaches, but united in a sustained engagement with important issues. Highlights include Mona Hatoum鈥檚听Hot Spot听(2006), a giant globe with continents outlined in red neon, defining the entire world as a zone of tension and conflict. Meanwhile, Francisca Aninat鈥檚听Interior/Exterior Field听(2007) is a large-scale fabric structure made from materials including Brazilian coffee sacks and newspapers, demonstrating the contrast between the piece鈥檚 fragile construction and the intense labour behind it that is often hidden from view.听
Michael Hoppen Gallery, London | Until 5 September
Summer at 10 Portland Road听offers a unique chance to see the best of Michael Hoppen鈥檚 collection, all in one place. Pioneers of the craft 鈥 think Edward Weston and August Sander 鈥 are placed side-by-side with contemporary practitioners like Sian Davey and Eamonn Doyle. Self-taught photographer Harley Weir鈥檚听The Convent听is a particularly memorable moment in the show.听In the shot, two women stand dressed in nun鈥檚 habits, covering their faces with their hands. There鈥檚 something eerie about their outfits, with the structural headpiece echoing something from Margaret Atwood鈥檚 dystopian novel听The Handmaid鈥檚 Tale听rather than traditional religious garb. Weir imbues her work with film references and historical precedents, resulting in photographs that feel as though they have been taken from another time.听
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Takeo Hot Springs, Kyushu | Until 3 November听
This annual exhibition of immersive light and sound pieces returns for its 11th听year. The open-air museum, hosted in a 3-million-year-old ancient forest that spans 500,000 square metres, transforms nature into art without harming it. Audiences are invited to lose themselves among glowing trees, glittering installations and rooms that shift and change. The experience is inspired by the history of the Japanese island of Kyushu, particularly the iconic Mount Mifune that sits at the heart of the site. The mountain is said to have risen from the Ariake Sea, before becoming a sacred spot for local communities during the Edo period. teamLab uses digital technology and projections to showcase that today鈥檚 society is built upon ancient traditions and landscapes, honouring the site rather than altering it.听
Fotografiska, Berlin | Until 15 September
Photographer Samet Durgun traces the lives of LGBTQIA+ refugees and asylum seekers in Berlin. The series became intertwined with the artist’s exploration of his own identity: 鈥淭rans people inspire so many artists; I admire their bravery and self-definition. Very quickly I realised that the project was as much about me as it was about them 鈥 if not more.鈥 More than 50 people were photographed, but only 15 portraits made it into the final collection. Some show their faces, whilst others chose anonymity, to avoid being identifiable to family members who may not be accepting of their sexuality or gender identity. Come Get Your Honey听shows lives full of beauty, creativity and resilience, while also acknowledging the structural barriers and social marginalisation queer individuals continue to face.听
Words: Emma Jacob
Image Credits:
1&5. teamLab, Forest and Spiral of Resonating Lamps – One Stroke, Summer Forest 漏 teamLab.
2. Nastja S盲de R枚nkk枚, Film Still from Survival Guide for a Post-Apocalyptic Child. Courtesy of the artist.
3. Mona Hatoum, Hot Spot, 2006. Courtesy of the David and Indr臈 Roberts Collection. 漏 Mona Hatoum. All rights reserved, DACS 2025. Image courtesy of White Cube. Photo by Stephen White.
4.Harley Weir, The Convent, 2017. Courtesy of the artist and Michael Hoppen Gallery.
6. Gabo Gazing, 2020, from the series Come Get Your Honey 漏 Samet Durgun.
