European Space Agency Calls Out for Space Artists for new art&science@ESA residency

By John Freeman on April 27, 2016

Andreas Mogensen was in space for his 10-day ‘iriss’ mission in September 2015, he took a special portrait of himself created by Portuguese visual artist Vhils. Image: ESA/NASA

When ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen was in space for his 10-day ‘IRISS’ mission in September 2015, he took a special portrait of himself created by Portuguese visual artist Vhils. Image: ESA/NASA

The European Space Agency, in partnership with Ars Electronica, has announcing art&science@ESA, a new art residency to explore the fertile ground between art and space science. Here’s the full details about the project which I think will appeal to a lot of downthetubes readers…

Art and scientific research are often driven by a similar spirit: investigating the nature of our being in the world, pushing boundaries in knowledge and technology, venturing into the domain of the unexplored.

Space science operates at the forefront of exploration, either by scrutinising the distant Universe with telescopes or by visiting our immediate cosmic neighbourhood.

The questions pursued by these studies naturally provide inspiration for artistic inquiry, which in turn can offer a fresh perspective on the scientific endeavour.

Artists interested in interdisciplinary research bridging these two domains are invited to submit applications for the art&science@ESA residency, part of which will be hosted at ESA’s ESTEC technical heart in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, which organises things such as the upcoming Asteroid Day on 30th June.

The ESA’s ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands

This competition is open to artists to propose innovative concepts and ideas in art and technology. The wide range of disciplines that can be considered include interactive art, digital music and sound art, computer animation, film, and visual effects, digital communities and social media, hybrid art, performance and choreography, and digital design.

The winning artist will first spend two to six weeks at ESTEC to become acquainted with ESA’s space science programme and interact with one or more scientific mentors, chosen on the basis of the art project’s focus.

The second part will be a month with the Futurelab team and another mentor at Ars Electronica in Linz, Austria, where the winner will develop and create new work inspired by their ESA residency.

BepiColombo module in space simulator / Fotocredit: ESA , Anneke Le Floc’h. Image: ESA / Anneke Le Floc’h

To be considered for this opportunity, artists are invited to submit a short video introducing themselves and describing the themes they would like to investigate during their residency at ESA. In addition, they should outline a possible concept and plan for the artwork they would like to create.

The call opens for entries closes at 23:59 CEST (21:59 GMT) on 6th June2016. The winning artist will be selected by an international jury that includes representatives from ESA, Ars Electronica and Futurelab, and members of the European Digital Art and Science Network.

“Ultimately, science and art are different manifestations of the same human urge to enquire, explore, and understand our place in the Universe,” says Mark McCaughrean, Senior Science Advisor in ESA’s Directorate of Science.

“In recent years, we’ve enjoyed working with artists, musicians, and other creative individuals inspired by our missions to help open wider engagement with the public, and this exciting collaboration with Ars Electronica will take things to the next level.”

Ars Electronica is a cultural institution working on the intersection between art, technology and society, founded in 1979 and based in Linz, Austria. Artists above the age of 18 from all countries are invited to apply to the art&science@ESA residency via the Ars Electronica website. The winning artist is subject to obtaining clearance to work at ESTEC.

Online Submissions

Artists’ applications for this residency will be accepted at http://www.aec.at/artandscience through to and including June 9, 2016. Every submission must include a video that provides specifics about the concrete ideas and projects for which the recipient hopes to derive inspiration. Other essential elements of every application are a sketch of the proposed art project, a cost estimate, and an overview of the artist’s previous work.

Presentation at the Ars Electronica Festival and in Traveling Exhibitions

The works created by the artists-in-residence will be showcased at the Ars Electronica Festival 2016/2017, on the premises of selected ESA facilities, and in modular traveling exhibitions running at the European Digital Art and Science Network’s seven partner institutions: Center for the Promotion of Science / Serbia, DIG Gallery / Slovakia, Zaragoza City of Knowledge Foundation / Spain, Kapelica Gallery – Kernikova / Slovenia, GV Art / United Kingdom, Laboral / Spain, Science Gallery / Ireland.

The residency is part of the European Digital Art and Science Network initiated by Ars Electronica and seven cultural partners (Center for the Promotion of Science, Serbia; DIG Gallery, Slovakia; Zaragoza City of Knowledge Foundation, Spain; Kapelica Gallery/Kersnikova, Slovenia; GV Art, UK; Laboral, Spain; and Science Gallery, Ireland) with the support of the EU’s Creative Europe programme

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.