Part 1: A Cosmic Quest in a Fragmented World
In a world grappling with fragmentation, uncertainty, and unease, both the Louisiana Museum in Denmark and Kiasma in Finland have embarked on ambitious exhibitions exploring themes so vast they almost defy comprehension. While the Danish museum delves into the profound depths of the ocean, the Finnish Kiasma sets its sights on the celestial expanse of our galaxy with the exhibition "On the Milky Way." This cosmic quest reflects a yearning for broader context in a time of disquiet, a desire to connect with something larger than ourselves amid the uncertainties of the present.
Part 2: A Multifaceted Exploration of Humanity’s Place in the Universe
"On the Milky Way" brings together 22 artists and groups, attempting to capture the weighty theme of humanity’s relationship with the universe. Kiasma, with its luminous white concrete, sensitively lit spaces, and gently sloping ramps, seems an ideal setting for such an exploration. However, the exhibition diverges from expectations. Instead of an awe-inspiring journey into the vast unknown, the relatively small rooms on the museum’s third floor present an almost overwhelming and rather didactic overview of humanity’s varied perspectives on its place in the cosmos.
Part 3: A Thematic Journey Across a Krackelured Landscape of Ideas
The exhibition is divided into five thematic sections, each broader than a single exhibition could possibly encompass: the conflict between matter and spirit, space as a trophy of superpower ambition and a popular culture dream, the exploitation of our planet, the relationship between humans and machines, and the eventual demise of our galaxy. These diverse threads initially create a sense of disorientation, a feeling of never quite settling into any one idea. However, this fragmented experience mirrors our current understanding of space, a vast and largely unexplored realm where our knowledge is just beginning to scratch the surface. The exhibition, like a journey across cracking ice, hints at the immense unknown lurking beneath.
Part 4: From Alchemical Fantasies to Dying Stars: A Journey Through Art and Science
The exhibition opens strongly with a juxtaposition between a small, unassuming 18th-century painting of an alchemist by an unknown artist and a series of photographs by Maija Tammi. These photographs, initially appearing to depict nebulae and distant galaxies, are revealed to be close-ups of sperm and breast milk. This pairing immediately establishes a grand theme – the interplay between alchemical fantasy, the fundamental building blocks of life, and their echoing forms in the vastness of space. The exhibition concludes with equal power. Petri Eskelinen’s installation "Dying Star" invites visitors into a room where the lights alternately brighten and dim. In the darkness, glowing dots, arranged in a 3D pattern derived from a dying star, become visible. However, when the lights return, these dots are revealed to be small notes and calculations on stacked plastic sheets, representing humanity’s attempts to understand the distant phenomena hinted at by the night sky. This final piece encapsulates both the futility and the profound ambition of our quest for meaning and order.
Part 5: A Universe of Ideas: From Science Fiction to Robotics and Beyond
Between these two anchors, the exhibition delves into a myriad of related topics – science fiction, robotics, AI applications, dystopian oil paintings, animals intruding into human spaces, everyday objects imbued with futuristic metallic sheen, spiritual mandalas, and dismantled computers. The abundance of material, while intriguing, sometimes feels crammed into the relatively small exhibition spaces, preventing individual pieces from fully resonating. For example, the poetic signals sent into space in Richard A. Carter’s "Signales," while conceptually fascinating, may be experienced by some as simply noise. Similarly, Björn Weckström’s jewelry, while a point of Finnish pride for its appearance in Star Wars, feels somewhat tangential to the exhibition’s core themes.
Part 6: A Celebration of Human Ingenuity: The Buko-Robot and the Interwoven Cosmos
Despite the occasional oversaturation, "On the Milky Way" ultimately succeeds in highlighting how space permeates almost every aspect of human experience – from artistic expression to philosophy and futuristic dreams. Among the many works, Pekka and Teija Isorättyä’s "Buko-robot" stands out. This elaborate homemade robot, combining coding, electronics, beer, ceramics, found objects, and a small plant, embodies the spirit of poet Charles Bukowski. Its crudely sculpted face engages visitors in conversations, responding with quotes from Bukowski’s work, often revolving around the need for another beer, which the robot promptly serves itself. The robot’s transparent belly reveals the beer nourishing a small plant, a touch of life within the mechanical. This work playfully subverts the often pristine and functional image of robotics, injecting a dose of cyberpunk into the exhibition, a welcome counterpoint to the overall serious tone, mirroring Bukowski’s "dirty realism" and embodying the unexpected ways in which the cosmic and the mundane intertwine.
