What is the Meaning of Life?

Multiple exhibitions across the Sainsbury Centre explore how art can help us uncover what it means to be human - from rulemaking, to time and play which spans our lifetimes, as they ask: What is the Meaning of Life?

Exploring the idea of routine and regulation, 'Living by the Rule: Contemporary meets Medieval' (16 May - 4 October 2026) reflects on the 'rules' that we live by today, through a dialogue between medieval experiments in a different way to live, and modern reflections upon how life is organised.

Exploring the concept of play in human cultures, 'Play Power' (16 May - 4 October 2026) reflects on the broader significance of play and how this is integrated into our daily lives. Would we live a more meaningful life if play were a central focus of day-to-day living?

Libby Heaney uses quantum computing to create immersive and participatory installations. 'Life in the Multiverse' (16 May - 4 October 2026), commissioned for the 'What is the Meaning of Life?' season, includes a two-part digital installation and a new series of paintings. Heaney layers diverse experiences to explore ideas around interconnectedness.

'Joy Like Time' (20 June - 15 November 2026) explores how memory, ritual and renewal intersect through the work of internationally renowned artists Marina Abramovic, Kalliopi Lemos and Gillian Wearing.

Woven from hand-dyed sisal rope, 'Tree of Life' by Seyi Adelekun (20 June 2026 - 30 May 2027) is a tactile and immersive installation, inviting visitors to move in and around the tree's central hollow trunk. Drawing on multiple traditions, the tree emerges as a universal symbol of the interconnectedness of all life, personal growth, the cyclical nature of existence and acts as a bridge between physical and spiritual realms.

Category: Arts | Visual Arts | Galleries / Art