Space and Art

Copernicus and His Heliocentric Theory Research

The first major endeavors into discovering the world of space started in 1512 when Copernicus published his heliocentric version of the universe. He worked out the system in mathematical detail and explained to rotation of the heavens. Before the 1600s, the sky was a mystery a left most people confused and curious, but in 1611 when the telescope was invented, it opened up a new area of exploration and triggered a still flourishing fascination with space (Vesna, pt.1).

Artists, writers, scientists, and people with simple curiosity have always been pondering space and its vast capacity for surprises. In 1865 Jules Verne described what he imagined weightlessness on the moon would be like (Vesna, pt.1). Nearly 100 years later this sensation was felt for the first time by Nuri Gagarin, the first human in space (Vesna, pt.4). The organization of life from the atomic level all the way into the depths of space has a unique alteration of great activity and relative inactivity that is quite artistic simply in its nature (Eames).

Makrolab

Makrolab is an ambiguous form of sculpture and architecture designed by Marko Peljhan. It is both a laboratory and a living space with four functional zones: a kitchen, a workspace, a dormitory, and bathrooms. Mounted in desolate environments, Makrolab looks as if it is a meteorological research center or a stranded space station. This remote location was designed by Peljhan to intervene into radio and telecommunication circuits to test the conditions under which transmission technologies operate and under which the relations between communicating individuals can be empowered. As a performance artist, Peljhan hosted artists, writers, scientists, and hackers for research in climate, telecommunications, and human and animal migration under strict conditions of isolation (Coded Utopia). His designed lifestyle mimics what astronauts lost in space might experience.

Dragon's Commercial Space Craft

More recent developments in space travel have influenced all types of popular culture from fashion to many television programs and movies. Planet Stories, The Jetsons, Lost in Space, Star Trek, and many more popular programs are quite prominent in our daily lives (Vesna, pt.6). Space X recently launched Dragon, the first private commercial space craft to successfully attach to a space station. The development of commercial transport of astronauts in space is only the first step to many more artistic and creative endeavors in space (Vesna, pt.5)

Ahmed, Waseem. "Artist of Year: Makrolab." Artist of Year: Makrolab. N.p., 25 Feb. 2013. Web. 28 May 2015. <http://allartistfor.blogspot.com/2013/02/makrolab.html>.

Brahe, Tycho. "Copernicus." Development of the Heliocentric Solar System. Medieval Astronomy, n.d. Web. 28 May 2015. <http://ircamera.as.arizona.edu/NatSci102/NatSci102/lectures/copernicus.htm>.

Eames Office. "Powers of Ten." YouTube. YouTube, 1977. Web. 28 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0>.

Unknown. "CODED UTOPIA." Continental Drift. Word Press, 27 Mar. 2007. Web. 28 May 2015. <https://brianholmes.wordpress.com/2007/03/27/coded-utopia/>.

Unknown. "Dragon." First Private Space Craft to the Space Station. SpaceX, 2015. Web. 28 May 2015. <http://www.spacex.com/dragon>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Space Pt1." YouTube. YouTube, 29 July 2013. Web. 28 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZIqTR332l8#t=34>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Space Pt4." YouTube. YouTube, 30 May 2012. Web. 28 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5ClKO6AJPo>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Space Pt5." YouTube. YouTube, 30 May 2012. Web. 28 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnSUHMXBmdg>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Space Pt6." YouTube. YouTube, 30 May 2012. Web. 28 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYmOtFjIj0M>.