Who and when was the Temple founded?
The Temple was founded in 2020 by the artist and spiritual philosopher Dome Wood and the curator and art critic Sam Steverlynck.
Is it a real temple?
Yes, The Agprognostic Temple considers itself to be a real temple.
Why is it called a temple and not simply an art space?
The Agprognostic Temple is not just an art space because it conducts its exhibitions around its own temple activities, furthermore, every exhibition takes place in a specific architectural setting that relates to certain aspects of the temple’s philosophy. In addition to this, much like how the Zoroastrians put fire and water in the centre of their temples, the Agprognostic Temple has The Cube of the Unknown at the centre of every exhibition.
Is it a temple for art?
The Temple is not a temple for art in the way a museum might be considered to be. However, art is what makes the temple.
What do you worship in the temple?
In contrast to other temples, no worship takes place in The Agprognostic Temple.
The Temple is more a place for inspiration than worship.
What is the function of the temple?
The function of The Agprognostic Temple works on many levels.
In a curatorial sense, it functions to show art that deals with esoteric and metaphysical themes in a challenging and new way — bringing these age-old ideas to contemporary relevance.
It also serves to demonstrate the subjective relationship to such ideas through what is expressed by each artist.
Furthermore, the Temple serves as a beacon of what is universal to all great art: the real presence of the unknown and a sense of being beyond our world.
The Temple also serves to heighten awareness of the unknown presence in life and art through its ritualistic performance of unveiling The Cube of the Unknown.
Further, The Agprognostic Temple stands to be a temple that questions other temples by challenging what a temple can be.
Do you sit more in the eastern or western tradition of temples?
Architecturally, symbolically, and in the performance of its rituals, the temple sits more in the western tradition. However, in terms of philosophical practice and the use of the temple as a contemplative space, it may be more in line with Taoist or Buddhist temples. While the art that is shown in the Temple is taken from all corners of the globe.
Is it ironic?
No, but as irony is a part of life, it might appear at times in the artwork shown in the temple. This also has the purpose of relativizing ideas of absolute truth.
Is it a joke?
No, it is a serious endeavour, but humour is never excluded.
Is it a religion?
In the context of this question, the Temple refers to itself as a “Preligion.” That is, it refers to itself as the investigation of principles that existed prior to religions in what they sought to capture. And in that sense, the principles that remain when religions have disappeared.
Do you perform sacrifices?
No sacrifices are performed, but the artwork that is placed in The Cube of the Unknown symbolically sacrifices itself by giving up its visibility in the show. This sacrifice is made to bring about increased awareness of the Unknown.
Do you have rituals?
The only ritual that is integral to the Temple is the Unveiling of The Cube of The Unknown. This is performed on the last day of every exhibition at 3:33 p.m. by the temple’s founders.
What does your symbol mean?
The two interlocking squares found in the circle represent the interchange between materiality and immateriality. This also applies to four-dimensional space, where the inside becomes the outside. On the outside of the circle are the letters D, S, and O, which stand for the names of the founders at the base, with O for others at the top. This symbolises the integral role of others within the Temple. These letters are only partially revealed, symbolising the unknown and the known as inseparable from each other. Around the triangle, also half revealed, are the combined astrological numbers of the founders, 30 and 33, which were told to them through a medium that they had visited in Brussels.
What does the name “Agprognostic” mean?
The name “Agprognostic” is a neologism of the words “Gnostic,” “Agnostic,” and “Prognostic.”
For a full account of the meaning and origin of this name, go to: Meaning and origin of the name Agprognostic
What is the significance of art in relation to theTemple?
In the manifesto of the Temple, it exclaims that through art, the presence of the unknown has become known. Therefore, the Temple as a “dwelling space” for the unknown only exists with art and is called by the founders a curatorial Gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art).
Does the Temple believe in God?
None of the founders believe in God.
It is speculated in the philosophy of the Temple that God is a construct of the human mind, formed as a cognitive attempt to understand consciousness in the fourth spatial dimension.
Does the Temple believe in the afterlife?
According to the Temple, the only afterlife one can truly believe in is the life after one’s own.
Why does the Temple refer to the hypercube?
The hypercube is a cube in four dimensional space. The idea of a fourth dimensional space as a real force in our lives is an idea embraced by the Temple.
This has the potential to explain consciousness and our sense of being in ways that go beyond the three dimensions of our world.
More on this idea can be read in the Egothávma.
Is there a specific philosophy behind the Temple?
The Temple has its own philosophy, written by the co-founder Dome Wood, and published in his book the Egothávma.
Who curates the exhibitions?
While each exhibition is brought together by both founders, the main curatorial role is led by co-founder Sam Steverlynck.