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Handcrafting in Zero Gravity: Reinventing the Spindle as An Artistic Intervention in Space Research

Published: 19 July 2024 Publication History

Abstract

This paper explores a methodological approach to art making in techno-scientific environments, by unfolding the conceptual framework and actual implementation of the art project Reinventing the Spindle. The research-based project explores ancient hand spinning and textile handcrafting methods in microgravity with the aim of highlighting weightlessness as a shared commodity and catalyzing critical discussions about the politics of space exploration and colonization. The act of researching marginalized knowledges in actual space research environments is conceived as a decolonial artistic strategy with a performative character. In line with this approach, this paper itself also becomes part of the art project. It reveals both technical and experiential details of experiments conducted on a parabolic flight, with the aim to inform potential researchers from different backgrounds and contribute to greater inclusivity in the field of space research.

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    cover image Proceedings of the ACM on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques
    Proceedings of the ACM on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques  Volume 7, Issue 4
    July 2024
    140 pages
    EISSN:2577-6193
    DOI:10.1145/3680122
    Issue’s Table of Contents
    Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than the author(s) must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected].

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    Publication History

    Published: 19 July 2024
    Published in PACMCGIT Volume 7, Issue 4

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    Author Tags

    1. Art and Technology
    2. Craft
    3. Decolonial Practice
    4. Diversity and Inclusivity
    5. Fibers
    6. Microgravity
    7. Parabolic Flight
    8. Performative Research
    9. Research as Art
    10. Space Research
    11. Textiles

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