Week 9: Space + Art

Carl Sagan once said: imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were but without it, we go nowhere. Long before space exploration was considered a reality, artists have been creating countless pieces depicting the version of outer space they fashioned in their own mind. These artistic masterpieces served as inspiration to space explorers in the 20th century, and continue to inspire young minds til this day.

Buzz Aldrin on the surface of the moon

Space is a culmination of all the topics we have covered so far in this course, and similarly, owes much of its success to art. The lack of knowledge in this field allows artists to craft their work without the restraint of reality. From 2001: A Space Odyssey to the Martian, film makers have been exploring the idea of life in space for decades. Not only did these pieces inspired many to pursue a career in space exploration, they also provided a surprisingly realistic look at life in space in the future. Some may even say that they directly influenced the development in space exploration technologies.

Poster for 2001: A Space Odyssey

Take 2001: A Space Odyssey as an example, it is important to note the similarity between the space stations on film and in reality, flat-screen computer monitors and in-flight entertainment on film that were only invented after the movie was aired. These films not only brought space exploration into the spotlight but also provided inspiration for inventions crucial to the program.

At the same time, the imagination of artists also illustrates the downsides regarding this field. While many have devoted their lives to connecting with unknown civilizations, fictional work depicting hostile aliens serve as note-worthy cautionary tales.

Daleks on Doctor Who

On the other hand, the advancement in space technologies allowed for a new field of artistic expression, 'Space Art'. Artists such as Chesley Bonestell work with scientists to create fascinating depiction of the universe aimed to publicize space exploration to the public. These pieces introduce the wonders of the universe and space exploration technologies. At times, spacecrafts are not only the subject of the artwork but also their carrier. Paintings, sculptures, and many more have flown in them and might even be left on the moon!

Exploring Mars by Chesley Bonestell(1953)

As proven time and time again throughout this course, art and science are inseparable. Their subtle yet undeniable connection allow both fields to flourish under the influence of one another and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for them.

Citations:

2001, a Space Odyssey. Dir. Stanley Kubrick. Prod. Stanley Kubrick. By Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, Geoffrey Unsworth, and Ray Lovejoy. Perf. Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, and William Sylvester. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1968. 

"45th Anniversary of Apollo 11's First Human Landing on the Moon." Arabian Business. N.p., 21 July 2014. Web. 08 May 2016.

Bonestell, Chesley. "Image Gallery." Chesley Bonestell. Chesley Bonestell, n.d. Web. 08 May 2016.

"Dalek." Tardis Wikia. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2016. 

"N.A.S.A. Space Shuttle Columbia Mission STS-61-C January 12, 1986 G-481." Vertical Horizons. Vertical Horizons, n.d. Web. 08 May 2016. 

"The 1st Art Exhibition in Earth Orbit on EUROMIR 95." Ars Ad Astra - The 1st Art Exhibition in Earth Orbit. OURS Foundation, n.d. Web. 08 May 2016. 

Vergano, Dan. "Who Was Carl Sagan?" National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 17 Mar. 2014. Web. 08 May 2016. 

Woods, Athur. "Cosmic Dancer - a Space Art Intervention by Arthur Woods." The Cosmic Dancer Project : Art In Space : Arthur Woods. Arthur Woods, n.d. Web. 08 May 2016.