Event #3 I Cosmological Elements #3

 On May 5th, I attended the Cosmological Elements #3 Zoom presentation. The event showcased a fascinating collection of exhibitions presented by different experts, who explored the mysteries of the universe. They examined various aspects of the cosmos from different scientific perspectives, sparking deep thoughts and discussions about space ecologies.

 Hazen, Robert. "The Great Debate on the Nature of Nebulae." Wondrium Daily.

The first exhibit at the event was "The Moon Goose Colony" by German artist Agnes Meyer-Brandis, whose project intersects scientific elements and fiction in her artwork. The artist was inspired to create this piece by Francis Godwin's novel, "The Man in the Moone", where the protagonist travels to the moon using a chariot pulled by "moon geese". Thus, she raised and trained eleven moon geese, giving them astronauts' names, imprinting them on herself, and creating a remote Moon-like environment for them to fly in. As learned in our lecture videos, Vesna emphasizes the creative nature of space exploration and art, stating, "I feel that space is one of the most creative realms that we can look into, and in a way, as artists, we are explorers ourselves" (Vesna, Space + Art, Part 1). This sentiment resonates with Agnes Meyer-Brandis' project, as it combines scientific research and artistic experimentation to create captivating installations.

Image of "The Moon Goose Colony" taken during the event.

Another interesting exhibit at the event was "Eyes in the Sky" by Anna Hoetjes. Her artwork explores the history and future of space, focusing on the role of women in this narrative. The project combines real and fictional elements, using found footage from scientific experiments but also from science fiction films. Using balloons and bubbles to symbolize the transformation of space, her work attempts to alter communication, navigation, and our understanding of Earth. The piece also utilizes a collage of images from the early 20th century and contemporary space visualizations. Rather than using rockets, floating balloons are the main visual object. The narrative is a blend of scientific research papers and science fiction stories, aiming to insert a female perspective into the male-dominated history of space exploration. The absence of women in the fantasy of space travel motivated the artist to create her own female space pioneer. In "Space + Art, Part 4," Vesna discusses the role of artists in raising awareness and provoking thought. She states, "We are visualizers, we are communicators, we are people who can make people think about things that they wouldn't think about otherwise" (Vesna, Space + Art, Part 4). This connects to the intention of "Eyes in the Sky" to stimulate reflection in spaces such as perception. In the same lecture video series, Vesna also explores the role of artists as agents of change. She says, "Art has this potential to touch people emotionally and create a bond, create empathy, and ultimately change behavior" (Vesna, Space + Art, Part 6). This resonates with the underlying purpose of "Eyes in the Sky" to prompt viewers to reconsider the portrayal of women in science fiction and exploration. 

Image of "Eyes in the Sky" taken during the event.

Proof of Attendance:

Comment Screenshot: 

Sources: 

Text:

Vesna, Victoria. "Space + Art Part 1." Bruinlearn, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/160989/pages/unit-9-view?module_item_id=5946351. 

Vesna, Victoria. "Space + Art Part 4." Bruinlearn, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/160989/pages/unit-9-view?module_item_id=5946351. 

Vesna, Victoria. "Space + Art Part 6." Bruinlearn, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/160989/pages/unit-9-view?module_item_id=5946351. 

Images:

Hazen, Robert. "The Great Debate on the Nature of Nebulae." Wondrium Daily, 12 November 2021, https://www.wondriumdaily.com/the-great-debate-on-the-nature-of-nebulae/. 

(The image of "The Moon Goose Colony" was taken as a screenshot from the event)

(The image of "Eyes in the Sky" was taken as a screenshot from the event)