Art and Human Spaceflight
Aleksandra Mir, N55 and Neal White, London Fieldworks, Michelle Griffiths
9-13 September 2006
ROUNDHOUSE, Chalk Farm Road, London NW1, UK
"We are all already in Space... "
This was Buckminster Fuller's reported response to the first flight into space by Yuri Gagarin. Artists - caught between fascination and repulsion by the new millennial push to Mars and return to the Moon - are still trying to decode the manual to Spaceship Earth.
For a short, intense period the Roundhouse, itself perched in North London like a giant spaceship, was transformed into a rocket factory for a rocket that is going nowhere - Gravity by Aleksandra Mir. Outside, the Space on Earth Station team, radical Danish architects N55 and artist Neal White, reversed into the future by building a Mars base-type habitation, in order to explore our terrestrial neighbourhood. Below, in the hive-like labyrinth of Roundhouse Studios, London Fieldworks investigated long-term space travel and hibernation in SpaceBaby.
<<<<<< SPACE SOON Gallery >>>>>>>
List of Events
Taking Control - Space Soon Symposium
Symposium exploring the future of space exploration from the human perspective. Click above for programme and papers.
Sat 9 - Sun 10 September, 10am – 6pm
Cosmic Engineers
Featuring Jerry Dammers' Sun Ra Tribute Band and special screening of Andrei Ujica’s cult Russian space film Out of the Present with new soundtrack by Dammers and Eshun.
Sat 9 September, 8pm
Secret Artist on the Moon - Apollo astronaut Alan Bean
Legendary Apollo astronaut, Alan Bean, discussed his experience of being on the moon, the impact of spaceflight on the human mind, and the power of art.
Sun 10 September, 7pm
Brilliant Noise - Glorious Soviet Cosmos
Film night:
First on the Moon by Alexei Federchenko
Dream Time by Jane and Louise Wilson
Brilliant Noise by Semiconductor
Mon 11 September, 7pm
Laurie Anderson
In conversation with Kodwo Eshun.
NASA's former artist-in-residence returning to the UK after the success of her show End of the Moon to reflect on her NASA experience and her visit to Russia’s space programme.
Tue 12 September, 8pm
We're All Going To Die
Resonance FM's operatic, radiophonic concatenation of space ephemera and near-Earth collision paranoia. Featuring the divergent talents of Ken Hollings, DJ Original Bear, Tom McCarthy, Johny Trunk, DJ Rocket 88, Resonance Radio Orchestra and Lembit Opik MP.
Wed 13 September, 8pm
Resonance FM broadcasted live from the Roundhouse throughout Space Soon, tune in on www.resonancefm.com or 104.4 FM in London.
Near Earth: a week of space creation
In the lead up to Space Soon, Arts Catalyst and Roundhouse Studios organised a week-long workshop for young people aged 14-19 years, taking them on a journey exploring space through digital photography, animation, sound and music, drama and the performing
arts.
