Toward an Aesthetics of Inter-space From Microgravity Environment to Multi-gravity Environment

Art Style | Art & Culture International Magazine

Abstract

Following the “aesthetic turn” in the 1980s, analyzing human experiences on technologically constituted environment has become an important subject of aesthetics study. Since an outer space environment is a specific biosphere created using advanced technologies, it represents a model case for addressing the questions. In this study, we introduce the term “inter-space” to examine a situation where relatively and artificially closed space environments coexist in the universe. Then, we focus on a specific experience of the microgravity environment with regard to the research by artists for the “Pilot Missions of Utilization for Culture/Humanities and Social Sciences” project of the International Space Station (ISS) (1996–2013). Although these studies resulted in several findings, they are not well-known in the western space art context. Finally, we turn our attention to the multi-gravity space environments and try to arrange materials in terms of inter- space aesthetics. What do living organisms feel in multi-gravity environments? Proposing questions regarding inter-space life and analyzing it in collaboration with artists who can sensualize it in their own way and researchers in other genres is one of the concerns of inter-space aesthetics.