The mankind has always been very curious about what’s out there in the space. It was Copernicus who first proposed the heliocentric model of the solar system in 1512. According to his meticulous calculations of the movements of the sun and other planets for years, Copernicus put forward that the Earth and other planets actually revolves around the sun in the solar system. Watching the video of “Powers of Ten”, I once again realize how small we human beings are compared to the endless space out there. We think of the sun, the moon, and the solar system when we think of the space. It seems like the milky way is so massive; however, it is simply a tiny part of the universe.
People’s imagination about the space has long been reflected in the popular culture as a bridge between art and space. Science fiction is one aspect of such imagination, many of which eventually come true in the real world. First described in Edward Everett Hale's short story "The Brick Moon", artificial satellite has become an essential part of today's space administration. Similarly, creation of series like Star Trek and Lost in Space shows people’s imagination of the space in the 1960’s.
Star Treck (1966–1969)
The research of the spatial science itself is a form of art. Named after the astronomer Edwin Hubble, Hubble Space Telescope was designed to provide clear images of the Space for scientific research. At the same time, the pictures taken by Hubble Space Telescope are so beautiful that it can catch people’s eyes as a piece of art and are shown in various exhibitions.
Hubble Space Telescope
In the piece “In Just a Blink of the Eye,” Xu Zhen uses performers who are held by concealed braces, appearing to be on the verge of falling. Making the relationship between time and space concrete, the artist manages to investigate the linear trajectory of life with the defiance of gravity. Inspired by Klein and scientist John Lilly, German artist Thom Kubli created the piece “Float!” which offers a session in a flotation tank of reduced-gravity, giving viewers an experience similar to swimming in the Dead Sea. Attempting to create an “anti-environment” that contradicts our everyday life, Kubli believes that the experience “provokes us to experience a view of our environment that is normally imperceptible to us.” (Forde)
In Just a Blink of the Eye
As the ending topic of the class, space and art integrates all that we have learned this quarter, including nanotechnology, biotechnology, mathematics, and robots, allowing artists to explore new areas and to work in multiple disciplines. Fascinated and intrigued by the enormous unknown of the mysterious universe for thousands of years, artists will continue to create mind-boggling pieces with further research in the space technology.
Sources
"The Brick Moon." Edward Everett Hale's Short Story:. Web. 28 May 2015. <http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/2108/>
"About Hubble." About Hubble. Web. 31 May 2015. <https://www.spacetelescope.org/about/>
"Blastoff! : DNews." DNews. Web. 30 May 2015. <http://news.discovery.com/space/history-of-space/a-brief-history-of-the-hubble-space-telescope-photos-150424.htm>
"Dancing on the Ceiling: Art & Zero Gravity Curated by Kathleen Forde : EMPAC Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center : Troy, NY USA." Dancing on the Ceiling: Art & Zero Gravity Curated by Kathleen Forde : EMPAC Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center : Troy, NY USA. Web. 28 May 2015. <http://zerogravity.empac.rpi.edu/>
"Xu Zhen Performance: In a Blink of an Eye." ArtHub. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://arthubasia.org/project/xu-zhen-performance-in-a-blink-of-an-eye>
Hello Qiuyi! This what a really great post! I liked how you talked about popular culture has reflected imaginations of space. I think that's very true! Do you think more media will continue to depict people's thoughts on space? How accurate do you think movies portray space?
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