Space is but a big black canvas for art.
Or at least that's the way it's looking. There are currently several artistic endeavors underway...or already accomplished...that are intended to end up in space. Why, you might ask? One artist explains the motivation at this BBC article:
"The artist known as Nahum resists the idea that space is ours to conquer. He argues that artists must be included in the conversation about how we explore space or else humanity – namely rich countries with well-funded aerospace programs – risk making the same mistakes the colonising empires made in the past. Who owns the surface of the Moon or a comet and has the right to exploit minerals or precious metals there? Fundamental aspects of our culture such as land ownership and borders are called into question as soon as we leave Earth, says the artist. “If [artists] have different skills and ways of understanding the world, we can only enrich the conversation,” he tells BBC Culture."
Recently, Nahum created an interactive sculpture that was launched on a SpaceX rocket to the International Space Station. From an Earth installation, art lovers may interact with the sculpture while it's in orbit. It's not alone.
Artist Trevor Paglen launched what he calls an "Orbital Reflector" into orbit via yet another SpaceX rocket. The piece looks like it might be an orbiter used for research or communications or the like, but it has no function apart from being a shiny light in the sky. A few astronomers have cried foul, claiming that the art piece obstructs the ability to conduct astronomical research. Whether that is true or not, it begs the question that has long been building of "just who gets to decide what goes into orbit?"
If Paglen's work has drawn ire, then astronomers must have loved Peter Beck. He put a "disco ball" in orbit back in January. It was called "Humanity Star" and Beck, CEO of Rocket Lab in New Zealand, said it was meant to be a "shared experience" for the people of Earth, something for us to look up at and remind us of our place in the cosmos. I didn't get to see it, but apparently it was only visible before dawn and it fell out of orbit sometime last June.
Back in 2017, artist Makoto Azuma attached a bouquet of flowers to four enormous balloons and sent the arrangement beyond the atmosphere.
Why?
Well, I'm sure many are asking that. Indeed, it must be quite difficult for several people of a certain mindset to get their heads around. These actions have no real practical outcome or "fair market value." They are inherently born of the creative spirit of humanity. If we are to expand outward into the solar system and indeed into the galaxy (I know, really stretching on that one), then should not the human impulse to create art come with us? Let's look at it another way.
The BBC article linked at the top of the post makes reference to the "golden records" placed on both of the Voyager probes. Electronically encoded on those records are several images from Earth that were selected by a committee chaired by astronomer Carl Sagan. A few of these images were works of human art. They were included because they communicate something about us. Why do humans create art?
Because we can. There is something intrinsic which drives us to do it.
In a way, these launched bouquets and orbiting disco balls are indeed something of a "shared experience." They communicate a message. Space is not relegated solely to those with the skill sets of technicians and engineers. It is a fundamentally human experience to set forth and explore and if humanity is to have a future in space, it should therefore include all varieties of human mentality. Yes, even writers. Preferably ones who can have their own berth on the ISS, blogging of their experience from orbit. Not too long, though. Being away from family is not as exciting of a prospect as it once was to a young, adventuring writer.
Anyway, I say why not gussy up space with a few disco balls?
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