Outer space
The outer space work series deals with the latest developments in space flight and the way they will shape our future life on earth and in earth’s near orbit. We are now on the threshold of a new era in space flight heralded by a paradigm shift in aeronautics research and the aeronautics industry but above all by the emerging sector of commercial space travel.
The outer space work series aims to elucidate the cultural dimension implicit in such technological developments and transpose it into a process of artistic transformation.
One central theme in this series will Najjar´s own experience of space flight. As one of the pioneer astronauts of Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, he will be embarking on SpaceShipTwo in one of its soon to be scheduled flights where he shall be the first artist in space.
To prepare for the flight, he is undertaking a multistage cosmonaut training program at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. The course covers jet flight in the stratosphere, zero-g flight, centrifuge training, simulated space walks in the hydrolab, and training simulations in the Soyuz capsule, to mention only a few highlights.
The photographic and video works that make up the work series deal with the latest cutting-edge developments in space technology while at the same time covering the performance aspects of Najjar´s own training units equipping him for space travel.
Michael Najjar’s project is part of the group exhibition Dalla via Emilia al mondo, curated by Diane Dufour, Elio Grazioli and Walter Guadagnini.
