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In my installation I make satellite positions visible – the room becomes a planetarium, with satellites replacing stars. Laser pointers display the positions of satellites. Additionally, illustrative interpretation of the emerging (satellite-) constellations explain their meaning and reflect our technological contemporary mythology. The C64, iPod, Gameboy and Walkman are among zodiac symbols of satellite constellations. | In my installation I make satellite positions visible – the room becomes a planetarium, with satellites replacing stars. Laser pointers display the positions of satellites. Additionally, illustrative interpretation of the emerging (satellite-) constellations explain their meaning and reflect our technological contemporary mythology. The C64, iPod, Gameboy and Walkman are among zodiac symbols of satellite constellations. | ||
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Stars are decorations of the night sky. Their arrangement have ever since been subject to explanation based on the contemporary cultural framework. This pattern interpretation has created the so called modern (western) constellations. The majority of which depict animals (Aries, Aquila, Dorado, Taurus, Cancer, Leo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Lupus, Lynx and so forth), followed by roman, greek and babylonian mythological characters (Andromeda, Aquarius, Auriga, Hercules, Pegasus, Perseus, Orion, Virgo and others). Already the third biggest group of constellations are man-made machines – pieces of technology like an the arrow (Sagitta), the triangle (Triangulum), the balance (Libra) and the lyre (Lyra). But there are also more curious ones like a ships keel (Carina), poop deck (Puppis) and its sails (Vela), an air pump (Antlia), a pair of compasses (Circinus), a carpenter's level (Norma), a mariner's octant (Octans), and compass (Pyxis), a eyepiece graticule (Reticulum), a telescope (Telescopium), a pendulum clock (Horologium), a microscope (Microscopium), a chemical furnace (Fornax), a sculptors chisel (Caelum) and a painter's easel(Pictor). Those constellations were given names by the french theologist and scientist Nicolas Louis de Lacaille (1713-1763) when he was on an astronomical expedition to the cape to study the southern heavens. When he looked up to the stars he saw the tools of artists, craftsmen, seafarer and scientists of his time. – if we'd shuffle the stars today – how would we name the new constellations? iPad | Stars are decorations of the night sky. Their arrangement have ever since been subject to explanation based on the contemporary cultural framework. This pattern interpretation has created the so called modern (western) constellations. The majority of which depict animals (Aries, Aquila, Dorado, Taurus, Cancer, Leo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Lupus, Lynx and so forth), followed by roman, greek and babylonian mythological characters (Andromeda, Aquarius, Auriga, Hercules, Pegasus, Perseus, Orion, Virgo and others). Already the third biggest group of constellations are man-made machines – pieces of technology like an the arrow (Sagitta), the triangle (Triangulum), the balance (Libra) and the lyre (Lyra). But there are also more curious ones like a ships keel (Carina), poop deck (Puppis) and its sails (Vela), an air pump (Antlia), a pair of compasses (Circinus), a carpenter's level (Norma), a mariner's octant (Octans), and compass (Pyxis), a eyepiece graticule (Reticulum), a telescope (Telescopium), a pendulum clock (Horologium), a microscope (Microscopium), a chemical furnace (Fornax), a sculptors chisel (Caelum) and a painter's easel(Pictor). Those constellations were given names by the french theologist and scientist Nicolas Louis de Lacaille (1713-1763) when he was on an astronomical expedition to the cape to study the southern heavens. When he looked up to the stars he saw the tools of artists, craftsmen, seafarer and scientists of his time. – if we'd shuffle the stars today – how would we name the new constellations? iPad | ||