Habətəbəl

Habətəbəl Solo Show and Book Launch by Artists Clayton Morgan

The commercialisation of space has become a topic of great interest and controversy in recent years. With private companies entering the space industry, the notion of space as a commercial enterprise has become increasingly tangible. The Apollo 14 mission, where astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell famously played golf on the lunar landscape, is a symbol of the early exploration of space, where the primary goal was scientific exploration and national pride.

The act of playing golf on the moon, however, also highlights the potential for space to be a site of commercial exploitation. The sport of golf, associated with leisure and luxury, was brought to a place where only four people had ever been before, and the event was broadcast to millions of people around the world. This moment marked the intersection of exploration, science, and commercialisation, a point in history where the boundaries between exploration and exploitation began to blur.

However, the Apollo 14 mission also serves as a reminder of the transformative power of space exploration, particularly through the lens of the Overview Effect - experienced by Edgar Mitchell during the return trip home. The Overview Effect refers to the profound shift in awareness that astronauts experience when they see the Earth from space, a shift that transcends national borders and reminds us of our interconnectedness to everything and everyone.

"My work focus’ on this intersection and the ways in which our relationship with space is changing. It challenges our preconceptions about space and our role within it, inviting viewers to consider the very real possibility of humanity transitioning into a multi-planetary species. With insight into the past, I hope to shed light on the present and the potential for a new era of space exploration that is both sustainable and equitable."

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