Space + Art

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This week we delved into the topic of Space and how it's allure inspires all types of artists everywhere. In art, space is defined as "the distances or areas around, between, and within components of a piece" (Esaak). There is no art piece that doesn't include an element of space in it, some type of space can be found within all art pieces. Many artists use space to manipulate it into the vision they see. They could make objects bigger or smaller depending on their place in the space; or if they're a sculptor, they would need to take into account external factors like lighting and where they'll be placed. 


Dean, R. (2024, April 3). Michelangelo, Working for God. Signifier. https://medium.com/signifier/michelangelo-working-for-god-9c9ddda9ccfc
One person who sat at the forefront of modern space art is Chesley Bonestell who created the modern aesthetic called Descriptive Realism. It prides itself on being an art form that focuses on being scientifically realistic while maintaining its awe-inspiring feeling (Haridy). The artists thinks about the different ecosystems that may appear on different planets depending on the atmosphere, what kind of life would they live with different gravities than ours, etc. Each artist pushes the limit on what art is in space and what lies beyond that. 

Space Queen by Morysetta - Tan, A. (2021, August 25). 6 Artists and Their Interest in Outer Space. The Artling. https://theartling.com/en/artzine/6-artists-and-their-interest-outer-space/

One organization that has an interest in space, would be the The Leonardo Space Art Project. They are a group of people who dedicate themselves to developing and expanding the culture of space through art. The group has collaborated with many people organizations over the years from newspapers to working with the International Academy of Astronomics. They are dedicated to spreading their knowledge and art to others. Many of the artists that partake in the project were born during the time of the Space Race and remember vividly of the excitement brewing at the time. They often use that time as inspiration for their work to capture the fascination and wonders of space (Levrier).

Shiner, L. (2013, September 13). First Man on Mars: Leonardo da Vinci. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/first-man-on-mars-leonardo-da-vinci-7012414/

Overall the appeal of space lies within the unknown and until mankind can explore all corners of space, there will continue to be those who seek to illustrate it. 

References

  1. Dean, R. (2024, April 3). Michelangelo, Working for God. Signifier. https://medium.com/signifier/michelangelo-working-for-god-9c9ddda9ccfc
  2. Esaak, S. (2019, May 30). The Element of Space in Artistic Media. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-space-in-art-182464
  3. Haridy, R. (2017, September 19). Gallery: Art meets science in the glory of modern space art. New Atlas. https://newatlas.com/gallery-space-art/51399/
  4. Levrier, G. (n.d.). Leonardo Space Art Project Visioneers. Spaceart.org. https://spaceart.org/leonardo/vision.html
  5. Shiner, L. (2013, September 13). First Man on Mars: Leonardo da Vinci. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/first-man-on-mars-leonardo-da-vinci-7012414/
  6. Tan, A. (2021, August 25). 6 Artists and Their Interest in Outer Space. The Artling. https://theartling.com/en/artzine/6-artists-and-their-interest-outer-space/

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