Towards a work of art on planet Mars

Abstract

The fruit of 4.5 million years of evolution, the human species began to develop artistic expression 30,000 years ago, a scientific approach a few hundred years ago, and within the last century a surprising ability for technological know-how dealing with the infinitely great and the infinitesimal. Through space exploration, man is now venturing beyond his own planet, emphasizing his scientific and technological traits which he has learnt to barness in order to further his quest for knowledge. (Actually, when he sends planetary probes, man presents and represents himself as an intelligent, daring being, capable of both questioning himself and looking for answers through the scentific method and the technological know-how presently at his disposal:) However, for various reasons, often legitimate ones (mass constraints, conflicting objectives,…), he excludes the artistic dimension from space exploration, even though this dimension could reveal and affirm him in his true essence under an aspect complementary to that of strict rational knowledge. The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate how—through judiciously adding some dozen grammes to a probe destined for Mars—the symbolic impact of such missions could be radically widened by introducing an artistic component whilst respeeting constraints of the men of science. The artistic project presented below consists of three threadlike spheres each weighing a few dozen grammes, in the centre of which metallic forms made of shape memoy alloys are developing. The selected shapes, resembling vegetal, “vital” and animal life on Earth are destined to transform themselves into line with Martian days and nights and likewise, Martian seasons. Such a proposition is based on 10 years of research and development into shape memory alloys and their applieation in art.