FOUR CUPS
FOUR CUPS
COLLABORATORS
DHAVALYA SAGAR
COLLABORATORS
DHAVALYA SAGAR
Category
Category
Experiments & Social Impact
Experiments & Social Impact
Year
Year
2025
2025
“FUTURE FOLDED” examines the transformation of the paper fortune-teller (commonly known as a “four cups” or “cootie catcher”) into a satirical political artefact. Traditionally, the fortune-teller is a children’s game, structured around four initial “cups” or folds, through which participants choose colours, numbers and hidden fortunes. Its mechanics simulate agency, yet the outcomes are predetermined by the writer of the fortunes.
“FUTURE FOLDED” examines the transformation of the paper fortune-teller (commonly known as a “four cups” or “cootie catcher”) into a satirical political artefact. Traditionally, the fortune-teller is a children’s game, structured around four initial “cups” or folds, through which participants choose colours, numbers and hidden fortunes. Its mechanics simulate agency, yet the outcomes are predetermined by the writer of the fortunes.
COLOUR COLOUR WHICH COLOUR DO YOU CHOOSE?
COLOUR COLOUR WHICH COLOUR DO YOU CHOOSE?
COLOUR COLOUR WHICH COLOUR DO YOU CHOOSE?
COLOUR COLOUR WHICH COLOUR DO YOU CHOOSE?
COLOUR COLOUR WHICH COLOUR DO YOU CHOOSE?
COLOUR COLOUR WHICH COLOUR DO YOU CHOOSE?
In this piece, the fortune-teller is reconfigured as a critical commentary on the futures available to younger generations. The outer folds are relabeled to represent global systems of power: Capitalism, War, Surveillance Capitalism and Environmentalism/Greenwashing. The numeric layer functions as a parody of political narratives that present themselves as neutral choices while concealing structural inevitabilities. Finally, the hidden fortunes reveal dystopian outcomes.
In this piece, the fortune-teller is reconfigured as a critical commentary on the futures available to younger generations. The outer folds are relabeled to represent global systems of power: Capitalism, War, Surveillance Capitalism and Environmentalism/Greenwashing. The numeric layer functions as a parody of political narratives that present themselves as neutral choices while concealing structural inevitabilities. Finally, the hidden fortunes reveal dystopian outcomes.
The juxtaposition of a childhood game with global crises foregrounds the dissonance between play and predetermination. The work proposes that, like the fortune-teller, political systems offer the illusion of agency while scripting outcomes in advance. Thus, “FUTURE FOLDED” becomes a metaphor for constrained futures where children will inherit but not author.
The juxtaposition of a childhood game with global crises foregrounds the dissonance between play and predetermination. The work proposes that, like the fortune-teller, political systems offer the illusion of agency while scripting outcomes in advance. Thus, “FUTURE FOLDED” becomes a metaphor for constrained futures where children will inherit but not author.
CHOOSE NOW, WORRY LATER.
CHOOSE NOW, WORRY LATER.
CHOOSE NOW, WORRY LATER.
CHOOSE NOW, WORRY LATER.
CHOOSE NOW, WORRY LATER.
CHOOSE NOW, WORRY LATER.
CHOOSE NOW, WORRY LATER.
CHOOSE NOW, WORRY LATER.
CHOOSE NOW, WORRY LATER.