The Conquest of Space

Fruit flies, frogs, and dogs are just some of the animals that humans have launched into space. The Conquest of Space tells the story of the chimpanzee Ham’s space journey a few months before Gagarin became the first human in space. A tragicomic reflection on the human space program seen from the animals’ perspective, based on archival material from NASA and the National Archives.

For the past 20 years, Albin Biblom has investigated humanity’s desire to explore but also to tame nature and animals. In a three-part exhibition based on three documentary films, the visitor gains insight into his in-depth research.

In all the films, there is humanity’s contradictory striving to be one with nature and, in the same breath, distance themselves from it and control it. This paradoxical approach is examined through various types of phenomena, such as the construction of zoos, dying traditions, and humanity’s ideas about expansion. In the exhibition room, each film is shown in its entirety during the respective exhibition period. The stories are expanded with photographs, texts, and archival material.

During the opening, a conversation with Albin Biblom will be held at 6 PM as part of the Tempo Documentary Festival.