EXTRATERRESTRIAL ORGANIC MATTER
EXTRATERRESTRIAL ORGANIC MATTER

“Extraterrestrial organic matter (ETOM) as an active medium”


Interested in discussing and exploring the intermingling of non-human agency, degrees of aliveness and alien life, we started the PЯОТO-ALIEИ PЯOJECT (PЯОТO-A) in 2019. Through this project, we investigate the synthesis and use of extraterrestrial organic matter (ETOM) as an active medium for artistic purposes. We particularly focus on the morphogenetic tendencies and the non-linear behaviour of extraterrestrial material assemblages in non-terrestrial, alien environments.

 

Largely, this project is a framework, a multi-disciplinary laboratory of ideas and experiments at the intersection of astrobiology, chemistry and media art. Our aim is to use ETOM to grow soft, kinetic and autonomous agents: intelligent ʻothersʼ that thrive and avoid equilibrium on non-terrestrial environments – a new type of alien material agency, yet unknown to humankind.

 

C R E D I T S
Project team – Juan M. Castro, Akihiro Kubota and Taro Toyota.

In collaboration with – The Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences (IAMAS); Department of Information Design, Tama Art University; and The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo.

WORKS

 

FORMATA  |  2020 – 2022

Alien blobs in a waterless mini-planet

PUBLICATIONS

Non-terrestrial Material Agency

Castro, J. M., & Kubota. A (2020). Performance Research 25 (3), 50-55

Extraterrestrial organic matter embodies the ‘other’, the unknown, alien life and a broader allocation of agency; it is loaded with philosophical, ontological and ethical considerations. As part of the Proto-A Project, we have focused on ETOM as an optimal substance to question the geocentric and anthropocentric mind-set intrinsic to our utilitarian understanding of matter.

EVENTS

OCTOBER 27

TALK - ALIEN SLSA 2023. ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, PHOENIX

SEPTEMBER 6-10

EXHIBITION - ARS ELECTRONICA. POSTCITY, LINZ

SEPTEMBER 17-19, 2022

EXHIBITION - YAMAGATA BIENNALE. Q1, YAMAGATA

DECEMBER 17 - 19

TALKS - 2021 OGAKI BIENNALE. INTL. SYMPOSIUM, L I F - E !?. JP/EU

APR 17 - JUNE 20

EXHIBITION - HOLOBIONT. LIVE IS OTHER. MAGAZIN 4, BREGENZ

FEB 19 – APRIL 25

EXHIBITION – 2021 SPACE ODDYSEY MONOLITH. GYRE GALLERY, TOKYO

DECEMBER 17-25

EXHIBITION - FORMATA. ARTECH GALLERY, TAMA ART UNIVERSITY. TOKYO
CONTACT

    mesianica51(at)gmail.com