The Asteroids and Comets exhibition presents space sculpture projects based on interactions with small bodies in the solar system. A series of paintings, objects and video works reveal what art in space might look like.

In 2021, Rostan Tavasiev, in collaboration with the Skoltech Space Center in Moscow, developed a prototype of a space mission to turn asteroids into bases for astronomical observations and at the same time into works of art. It is planned to place modules in the form of eyes on asteroids that will scan the Main Asteroid Belt for minerals.

Rostan Tavasiev proposes to also work with other “celestial bodies” – comets. To create works of art, it is intended to use comet nuclei lined up in chains in orbits around the Sun. When approaching the Sun, they will heat up, turning into comets with long colored tails. The chains of comets will form a complex structure resembling fireworks. Thus, the entire solar system will turn into a huge firework sculpture, parts of which will be visible from Earth.

Nadya October

I started my extremely ambitious plan to explore space through art a few years ago by creating designs for planetary nebulae. In the course of my work, a slight pang of sadness never left me. Twenty thousand years is the minimum possible time for the formation of a planetary nebula in space. It is obvious that I have no chance to see my projects realized. Therefore, I take the second step into space by changing the scale of objects.

This exhibition features art projects based on small bodies of the solar system: asteroids and comets. The development of technology makes them available for artist’s work in the current century already. This means that you and I have a chance to see these projects realized in space.

Perhaps it was a stone picked up by our distant ancestor in the late paleolithic times that began the history of art. It will be fair if the first works of art in space realized by us and our descendants will be asteroids – stones flying in the boundless space.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the scientists: Anton Ivanov, Sergey Popov, Shamil Biktimirov, without whose cooperation this project would not have been feasible.

Rostan Tavasiev