The planetary perspective tells us that the smallest element of the world can be viewed in a newtork of great dependencies. The space in a city is by no means empty; it has a specific content. It is made up of atmospheric aerosols, moisture, mineral dust, ashes, soot particles, dust from the construction and demolition of buildings, plant and fungal spores, urban radio and electromagnetic spectrum and pollution–noise, chemical and biological substances released by industry and households. The space is inhabited by populations of microorganisms, insects, animals and humans. Together they form an airborne community in a process of constant change.

THE MILKY WAY IN ZENITH author: Michał Ostaszewski, astrography.com 2018; FROM SKYSCRAPER TO STARSCRAPER authors: Academy of Urban Astronauts (ASA), Marjolijn van Heemstra & Studio Monnik (Edwin Gardner, Christiaan Fruneaux). Design and model: Cedric van Parys stadsastronaut.nl 2018. Photo Simone De Iacobis

The authors of the works presented at the exhibition expand the dictionary of the description of our times by working with invisible elements of urban space. They demonstrate the importance of the particles and the interfaces of different life forms or duration. They explain the different speeds of change for the animated–biological and the inanimate–mineral. They explain the concept of carbon footprint and light pollution. They reveal eco-biographies of various forms of coexistence, including the smells of the past. They show how the city shines through the stars and scares nocturnal animals. They illustrate what choices we can make, what non-human co-residents of the city we must take special care of and how to support a multispecies community.

UNTITLED (GREENHOUSE) author: Jan Domicz, 2019. Photo Simone De Iacobis

CREPUSCULAR AND NOCTURNAL ANIMALS (active during the third time of day and at night). Illustration by Ola Niepsuj, comissioned for the exhibition.

Download the texts desribing the works from the exhibition.

Further reading

Colors, textures and chiaroscuro [Barwy, faktury i światłocień] research about city squares by CENTRALA in frame of the exhibition Warsaw Squares–a constellation of cases by Fundacja Bęc Zmiana in Warsaw during the 9th edition of the Warsaw Under Construction festival in 2017 (only in Polish).