Space and Art (Unit 9)

Space and Art

Copernicus, the renaissance astronomer, first developed a spatial model that placed the sun, in the middle of our solar system (Vesna). Centuries later, the “Space Race”, a political race that spurred the beginnings of modern space research, began during the Cold War, which paved the ways for further space-research programs such as NASA and Space-X (Vesna).

Copernicus (Biography.com)

From movies to novels, humans have had a history of fantasizing the unknowns of space for many years. Beyond fantasy, however, lies a much more realistic expression of art through space, called “space art” that has become more prevalent as our understanding of space has become more advanced in recent years.

One example I found notable was Makrolab, the living telecommunications laboratory that emerged from artist Marko Pelijhan’s vision in 1994 (Holmes). This laboratory hosted crews of artists, writers, hackers, and scientists for research of climate, telecommunications, and migration patterns of humans and animals (Holmes). It produces diaries, photos, and maps called “dataesthetics” that resemble artifacts displayed in traditional museums, but also incorporates the actual experiences of the team of workers at the lab.

Photo of Makrolab (Projekt Atol)

Many involved with “space-art” have claimed that space research is not only incorporates the art and creativity, but is also imperative for human survival. According to Arthur Woods, one of the members of the Leonardo Space Art Project Working Group, human destiny is ultimately going to end up in space, as space resources will be the key factor to ensuring future prosperity and survival of the human race (Spaceart).

Despite human advancement within space-research, there is still tremendous potential for further human research in this field. Fomalhaut B, an exoplanet located 25 light years away, illustrates this point. According to Trevathan, the fastest speed at which humans can travel has been recorded at 24,000 mph. According to McClure, one light year equivocates to approximately 6 trillion miles away, which means it would take approximately 150 trillion years for humans to get to reach Fomalhaut b. Trevathan adds that we have to travel 25 trillion miles, or about a billion years at the fastest speed recorded, to reach the closest star, the Alpha Centauri, from Earth. That is very far away!

Exoplanet Fomalhaut b (Harrington)

Holmes, Brian. “CODED UTOPIA.” Continental Drift, Wordpress, 18 May 2009, brianholmes.wordpress.com/2007/03/27/coded-utopia/.

Marlow. “Determining an Exoplanet.” Powers of Ten Blog, Wordpress, 14 Jan. 2013, blog.powersof10.com/?p=6757.

McClure, Bruce. “How Far Is a Light-Year?” EarthSky, EarthSkyCommunications Inc., 28 Aug. 2017, earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/how-far-is-a-light-year.

Spaceart. “ The Leonardo Space Art Project Working Group.” Leonardo Space Art Project Visioneers, MIT Press, spaceart.org/leonardo/vision.html.

Trevathan, Joseph. “21st Century Explorer.” NASA, NASA, education.jsc.nasa.gov/explorers/p4.html.

Vesna, Victoria. “Space and Art.” Unit 9 . Desma 9, 26 May 2018, Los Angeles, University of California, Los Angeles, cole2.uconline.edu/courses/888567/pages/unit-9-view?module_item_id=16300833.

Biography.com. “Nicolaus Copernicus.” Biography.com, A&E Television Networks, 15 Mar. 2018, www.biography.com/people/nicolaus-copernicus-9256984.

Harrington, J. D. “Fomalhaut System.” Wikipedia, NASA, 9 Jan. 2013, www.makery.info/en/2017/07/25/marko-peljhan-lutopie-materialisee-du-makrolab-12/.

Projekt Atol. “Marko Peljhan and Students from the University of California in Santa Barbara at Makrolab in Venice in August 2003.” Makery.info, Makery Media, 25 July 2017, www.makery.info/en/2017/07/25/marko-peljhan-lutopie-materialisee-du-makrolab-12/.

Bibliography