Art reimagining mineralogical novelty: The emerging and future geodiversity of the Anthropocene

In this article, I examine how contemporary artists are responding to the unprecedented surge of anthropogenic mineral diversity and the rapid accumulation of technofossils by envisioning their potential future manifestations. These artworks move beyond the prevailing nostalgic and apocalyptic narratives by fostering a sense of concern and curiosity about the future interplay of biological, geological and technological compounds and their coevolutionary dynamics. Firstly, I analyse the works by Agnieszka Kurant and Sylvia Noronha, which challenge the conventional, ahistorical notions that often guide ex-situ mineralogy and the narratives presented in geology galleries. These traditional approaches typically emphasise chemical composition and crystal structure, neglecting crucial environmental and evolutionary contexts. I then turn to the art projects by Anika Schwarzlose and Brian McKenna, which speculate on the formation of novel minerals and the radical transformative material dynamics of mining technofossils in situ, both on the earth’s surface and in subsurface environments. I conclude by proposing that art acts as a catalyst for bridging the traditional divides between nature and culture and between biology and mineralogy. By doing so, art invites scholars, museum curators and the public to engage critically with newly emerging material dynamics. Through imaginative exploration, art creates a space to pose open-ended questions and develop new narratives that help us notice, name and responsibly connect with the material realities of the Anthropocene epoch.