How Space Exploration Is Influencing Art on Earth
Space exploration up to this point in time has been largely focused on science and technology. All of the approximately 600 human beings who have voyaged into space have come from a background in engineering, science or as a test pilot, rather than a creative field.
However, Space for Humanity aims to be able to send global citizens into space in the near future. As space exploration becomes more accessible, possibilities are opening up for a more diverse range of people to travel into space sooner rather than later. As a wider demographic enters into orbit, new perspectives will open up, including within the artistic community.
Dylan Taylor, formerly of Colliers International, is the founder of Space for Humanity and holds the distinction of having been the first private citizen to manufacture an item in space. While manufacturing in space is happening in the present, creating art in space – rather than simply inspired by space – could happen in the near future.
Space Inspiring Art, Art Inspiring People
There has been art inspired by space for thousands of years, with people from ancient times gazing upwards and creating paintings and other works depicting celestial bodies as seen from Earth. However, space art as a sub-genre began to develop in earnest in the years following the Second World War, when space programs began to flourish and more became known about what was happening in the parts of the galaxy closest to us.
All of this new information means very little to the public without art. Many objects in space are barely visible even through the most powerful telescopes, while photographing phenomena such as black holes is as yet impossible using current technology. To bring these sights to the masses, therefore, requires an artist’s vision.
Art has been commissioned by NASA since the inception of the organisation, with artists extrapolating powerful imagery from scientific findings and thereby bringing those findings to the attention of the public.
The PDF attachment provides an overview of the NASA Art Program.
Introducing the NASA Art Program
The origins of space art as a genre can be traced back to the early 1950s, when a series of illustrations were commissioned by Wernher von Braun, a Nazi rocket scientist. The scientist ran a series called ‘Man Will Conquer Space Soon!’ in a publication called Collier’s Weekly, which analysed ways in which humans might travel into space and colonise the stars.
The accompanying illustrations of human settlements, rocket ships and planets designed by Chelsey Bonestell and two other artists brought to life the possibilities of space colonisation in the imaginations of the public. Bonestell is recognised as being the father of the modern space art genre. Some more of the most famous space-related artists can be viewed in the infographic attachment to this post.
Famous Space-Related Artists
The International Association of Astronomical Artists is recognised as the premier guild dedicated to the creation of space art. The embedded short video has more information about the establishment of the IAAA.
Space art for many years flourished in the realms of science fiction, where artists were free to imagine whole new worlds inspired by space exploration.
However, many artists that delivered compelling science fiction works were also involved in the visualisation of proposals for space exploration, creating pieces along with input from astronomers and scientists to motivate investment in space exploration programs.
titsay
andulkaphoto
annaxmalina
prguitarman
turnnoffyourmind
janainaart
izzy806