Exhibition - Republic of the Moon

An exhibition of work by Agnes Meyer-Brandis, Katie Paterson, Liliane Lijn, Leonid Tishkov, WE COLONISED THE MOON and Moon Vehicle that re-imagines our relationship with our nearest celestial neighbour.

It's nearly four decades since humans walked on the Moon, but it now seems likely that we will return there in this century – whether to mine for its minerals, as a ‘stepping stone’ to Mars, or simply to do scientific research. In a provocative pre-emptive action, a group of artists are declaring a Republic of the Moon here on Earth, to re-examine our relationship with our planet’s only natural satellite.

After two decades working with space dreamers from the European Space Agency to anarchist autonomous astronauts, The Arts Catalyst will transform Bargehouse into an Earth-based embassy for a ‘Republic of the Moon’, filled with artists’ fantastical imaginings. Presenting international artists including Liliane Lijn, Leonid Tishkov, Katie Paterson, Agnes Meyer Brandis and WE COLONISED THE MOON, the exhibition combines personal encounters, DIY space plans, imaginary expeditions and new myths for the next space age.

Marking the start of its twentieth anniversary year, The Arts Catalyst, the UK’s leading experimental art and science organisation, will animate the Bargehouse exhibition with performances, workshops, music, talks, a pop-up moon shop by super/collider and playful protests against lunar exploitation. A manifesto declaring the Moon a temporary autonomous zone, with responses from artists and scientists to novelist Tony White’s call to “occupy the Moon!” will be published in print and e-Book formats to coincide with the exhibition.

- Agnes Meyer-Brandis’ Moon Goose Analogue: Lunar Migration Bird Facility (Ars Electronica award of distinction winner 2012)
- Katie Paterson Second Moon and Earth–Moon–Earth
- Liliane Lijn’s moonmeme
- Leonid Tishkov’s Private Moon
- WE COLONISED THE MOON (Sue Corke and Hagen Betzwieser) will be the Republic of the Moon’s artists in residence throughout the exhibition.
- Moon Vehicle, devised by the students at Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology in Bangalore, with artist Joanna Griffin.

The artists in Republic of the Moon regard the Moon not as a resource to be exploited but as a heavenly body that belongs to us all. The exhibition asks: Who will be the first colonisers of the Moon? Perhaps it should be the artists.

A Manifesto for the Republic of the Moon will be published to accompany the exhibition, edited by curator, Rob La Frenais.

Republic of the Moon is a touring exhibition, commissioned by The Arts Catalyst with FACT. It was first presented at FACT in Liverpool. It has been made possible with Grants for the Arts support from Arts Council England and Science & Technology Facilities Council.