Introduction to New Era of Space Exploration

• Beginning of new era for future exploration and commercialization of space
• Progression: Moon → Mars → rest of solar system
• Speaker's fascination with space exploration but troubled by implications
• Historical human exploration led to aggressive exploitation of people, land, resources
• Ongoing colonization process shaped unfair world today
• Central question: How to avoid perpetuating colonial patterns in space?

Artist in Residence at European Space Agency

• Speaker appointed artist in residence at ESA
• Unique opportunity to make bold statement
• Rethinking what humans need to take on space journey
• More importantly: what to leave behind
• Speaker's background: privileged white male born/raised in Europe
• Grew up in world where Western art, science, technology presumed superior
• Museum visits revealed cultural diversity through colonial heritage collections
• Introduced to wide range of cultures and unique ways of understanding world

Cultural Diversity as Humanity's Greatest Achievement

• Humanity's greatest achievement: not moon landing but cultural diversity
• Rituals, beliefs, knowledge woven within cultural diversity
• Rich legacy not belonging in past but alive, sometimes thriving
• Rarely discuss cultural, ethical, spiritual matters in space exploration
• Culture will give purpose in future
• Learning to appreciate multiple cultural dimensions without nostalgia/condescension

Korean Shamanism Case Study

• Kim Kum Hua: Korea's most iconic shaman (passed last year)
• Met at shrine in Gangwa Island
• Witnessed last ritual: celebration blessing 70th anniversary as shaman
• Preparation for departure to afterlife
• Korean shamanism: dating back to prehistoric times
• Resilient spiritual practice, source of empowerment for women
• Jung-sun: shaman of the people
• Ceremony lasted several days/nights
• Everyday objects elevated, acquiring new dimension
• Witnessed transformation into god through dance, prayer, ritual
• Despite power position, shamans remain graceful, humble human beings
• Power within ancient forms of knowledge
• Role of cultures in maintaining fragile cosmic balance

Totonac Culture in Mexico

• Don Ramon: local healer from Center for Indigenous Arts, Veracruz, Mexico
• Totonac culture taught to future generations
• Director Umberto Garcia described educational model
• Art, communication, medicine not independent but entangled
• Totonac cosmovision: ever-changing interconnected dimension
• Natural rhythm infuses every activity (cooking, weaving, healing)
• Nothing trivial or decorative, every gesture/action has meaning
• Traditions far from immobile
• Result of thousands of years of practice in painful regenerative process
• Unique pieces of wisdom must bring into future

Moon Temple Proposal

• Challenge current model of space colonization
• Big gesture: recognize moon as universal symbol of rebirth/renewal
• Part of ESA plans for permanent human presence on moon
• Moon Temple: future space for diverse cultural projections, traditions, scientific research
• Location: rim of Shackleton crater
  • Gigantic impact crater
  • Features peaks of eternal light and perpetual darkness
• Design advantages:
  • Lunar microgravity
  • Use of local resources
  • Complex celestial mechanics at moon's south pole

Material Culture and Ritual Artifacts

• Interior contains traces of intriguing new material culture
• Objects made with moon dust and rare aerospace materials
• Symbolizing humanity's ancestral wisdom and complexity
• Masks, vessels, ritual artifacts
• Powerful objects implying deep personal transformations
• Bridge to distant worlds
• Represent vast diversity in human experience
• Carry thousands of stories yet to be written
• Some provide protection, others relate to harsh conditions
• Familiar human quality despite distant origin

Vision for Future

• Moon Temple celebrates moon as measure of all things
• Monument to humanity's reason and imagination
• Chance to bring together science, art, ritual
• Personal, utopian vision for interplanetary future
• Utopian exercises can break free from prejudices on Earth
• Need more diverse personal narratives for future
• Future not turning backs to cultures and their role in shaping identity
• Future not perpetuating survival of most privileged at expense of vulnerable
• Instead: acknowledge fragile position in universe and responsibilities toward it