Other Skies: Exoplanetary Dust

“Exoplanetary Dust”
Curated by CLOT Magazine & SciArt Initiative
as part of the "OTHER SKIES" festival in collaboration with Multiverse Concert Series

“Man has gone out to explore other worlds and other civilizations without having explored his own labyrinth of dark passages and secret chambers, and without finding what lies behind doorways that he himself has sealed.” -Stanislav Lem, Solaris

In 1984 astronomers observed the first planetary disk of dust and gas around the star Beta Pictoris, providing a tantalizing glimpse of the potential for exoplanet discovery. And now? Over 4,000 exoplanets have been discovered; we are fortunate to find ourselves in a fertile universe of celestial bodies. The implications of these findings are being explored with fervor by scientists and artists alike.

Recent scientific advancements—combined with our insatiable curiosity to probe the unknown—have rekindled our SciFi imaginations in the quest for the extraterrestrial. But what are the philosophical implications of these revelations? As these discoveries permeate popular culture, artists, thinkers, and scientists reflect and interpret their relevance. Can we envision new horizons for humanity away from imperialist and colonial perspectives? What undiscovered life forms will we encounter? Can we imagine what it would be like to live beneath other skies?

This exhibition was created as part of the day-long festival "OTHER SKIES: An Exoplanetary Festival," created by Multiverse Concert Series, CLOT Magazine, and SciArt Initiative in partnership with Integral Steps. Learn more about this festival at otherskies.org.

"OTHER SKIES" and the accompanying exhibition was made possible in part with the support of the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain in Washington DC, and the Boston Mayor's Arts and Culture COVID-19 Grant.