ART/ TECH/ NATURE/ CULTURE CURATORIAL AND CREATIVE RESIDENCY

A glimpse of Earth from a great distance

I have been continuing to reflect on Professor Roberto Trotta's perspective shifting talk 'The Future of Life on Earth' which I mentioned in my last newsletter. Professor Trotta discussed the long established idea that some people believe that one day in the future, we may be able to escape our tortured planet to build a new colony in our solar system to ensure the survival of the human race. He added that this pursuit would be practically and ethically misguided and that there would be only space for one species, us. I have been thinking about this prospect, looking out over the blue water outside my window, thinking about the immense periods of time our planet has revolved through the solar system.

Professor Trotta said that 'There would be no space for whales, falcons, or butterflies; no meadows full of bluebells, no thousand-year-old redwoods, and no coral reefs.'

You can read the full transcript of the talk, here.

Dec. 5, 2014 – A camera in the window of NASA's Orion spacecraft looks back at Earth during its unpiloted flight test in orbit.
Image Credit: NASA Television

I think trying to picture ourselves seeing Earth from a great distance may help us to understand the cosmic significance of the climate crisis. Will you close your eyes for 3 minutes and transport yourself to a landscape on another planet, and think about the things on Earth you would profoundly miss? Think about how far away our blue marble would feel. What things in particular come to mind? I imagine our lists would be endless. Please feel free to share your thoughts and feelings.

Here are my immediate reflections:
1. Lying on the grass on a summer's day looking at the insects moving through the leaves, and wondering how they perceive the world
2. Rainfall changing the colour of huge rock faces
3. The sound of a murmuration of starlings as they fly past my window in the early evening