Space and Art

 

                                                 Over the Black Sea by Alexei Leonov

The intersection of space and art provides a framework by which viewers can go beyond the human and earthly perspectives to take a glance into the unknown. Most of the universe is uncharted territory. Artwork is therefore a way to make the inaccessible accessible. Space can now be truly realized and grasped through art. Annick Bureaud strongly believes that only artists can provide the vision that will bring humankind to other planets (Leonardo Space Art Project Staff).

Space and art can also work together to promote futurism.  The Living Laboratory in Australia resembles a space station with its futuristic exterior. (Holmes) The project began in 1994 when the Internet boom began, and really reflected the commentary surrounding our futures with incoming new technological advances (Holmes).

                                                Fallen Astronaut by Paul Van Hoeydonck

Space art is known as artistic expression emerging from knowledge and ideas related to outer space (IAAA). It serves as a means and inspiration for promoting and visualizing space travel (IAAA). Again, in space art, the genre encourages viewers t grapple with the unknown. In such a vast universe, where we now know we aren’t at its center, what does it mean to be human? 

Totality by Katie Paterson (A mirrored ball depicting almost every solar eclipse ever documented)

Artist Arthur Woods has written that culture will be altered by the environment, as human civilization starts to extend beyond this planet. Because art and science are interdependent, art will play an important role in sensitizing humanity to new environments in outer space (Woods). The exploration of outer space in art also allows us to find connections between our humanity, and the unknown elements of space. For instance, Artist Takuro Oskaka states that people in outer space may connect the double helix structure of DNA to the helical movement of the universe (Osaka). The way humans can become comfortable with the unknown is by finding a connection between the unknown object and something they are familiar with. The intersection of art and space has an amazing potential for normalizing the relationship between humanity and outer space.

Works Cited

Holmes, Brian. “CODED UTOPIA.” Continental Drift, 27 Mar. 2007, https://brianholmes.wordpress.com/2007/03/27/coded-utopia/.

IAAA. “What Is Space Art? – International Association of Astronomical Artists.” IAAA, https://iaaa.org/what-is-space-art/. Accessed 28 May 2022.

Leonardo Space Art Project Staff. “The Leonardo Space Art Project Working Group.” Space Art, https://spaceart.org/leonardo/vision.html. Accessed 28 May 2022.

Leonov, Alexei. Over the Black Sea. 1973.

Osaka, Takuro. “Art in the Space Age: Exploring the Relationship between Outer Space and Earth Space.” Leonardo, vol. 37, no. 4, Aug. 2004, pp. 273–76, doi:10.1162/0024094041724571.

Paterson, Katie. Totality. 2016.

Van Hoeydonck, Paul. Fallen Astronaut. 1971.

Woods, Arthur. “The ‘Cosmic Dancer’: Sculpture and the Absence of Gravity.” Leonardo, vol. 26, no. 4, 1993, p. 297, doi:10.2307/1575916.