Visual Artefacts (Carte du Ciel)
The research project Visual Artefacts (Carte du Ciel) explores the dual nature of drawing as both a scientific instrument and a poetic medium. Bridging disciplines such as the history of science, astronomy, and media philosophy, the study investigates how drawing articulates knowledge and functions as a medium of translation between materials, technologies, and fields of inquiry. Through a combination of studio practice and archival research, the project examines drawing as a tool for reflecting on photographic concepts such as mechanical image reproduction, original and copy.
Using archival material related to the international star-mapping project Carte du Ciel, initiated at the Paris Observatory in 1887, as its starting point, the project seeks to highlight and question aspects of visibility, value, and labour in relation to historiography. Particular attention is given to the role of the handmade mark and material aspects of analogue photography, preservation, and archival practices. The project will be centred on a series of new drawings based on material collected from observatories in Brussels, Paris, and Potsdam, alongside experiments with printing techniques on glass and paper.
Results
Artworks (Drawings and Prints)
Since this is a practice-based project, my primary focus will be to develop a new body of works for future exhibitions and
presentations. The project will result in a collection of drawings, derived from photographic material and plate annotations, as well as a series of prints on glass and paper, which will be based on traces and markings found in notebooks. Additionally, I will experiment with spatial elements that can extend the project in different exhibition
contexts.
Publication
Parts of the project will be presented in an artist book /small catalogue. The publication will bring together visual
material alongside a set of essays, addressing themes central to the project. I intend to invite people related to the field of
science to contribute with texts, in addition to my own writing.
Exhibitions
I will be presenting the project in a series of exhibitions. I am currently in dialogue with the gallery Closing Soon in
Athens regarding an upcoming show. Continuing to build relationships with galleries and institutions in Antwerp and
elsewhere will be an ongoing and integral part of the research process.
Artist Talk / Research Catalogue
The research will also be shared through public talks, including the potential to contribute to the Academy’s Soup
Sessions. In addition, parts of the project will be made accessible online via the Research Catalogue (RC) platform, enabling the work to be contextualized within an international research community.
