Unearthing Futures

Unearthing Futures asks who gets to go to space? Who even gets to imagine themselves going to space?

The dominant narrative of the future and space exploration follows western aesthetics and politics that are really just a continuation of colonialism. The search for new territories and even the idea of “discovery” are really motivated by extraction and supported by exploitation.

As a response, Xin Liu and I sent 150 Peruvian potatoes seeds to space. Upon their return from a month-long stay at the International Space Station we planted them alongside their earthbound siblings in our backyards.

We chose potatoes because they are a symbol of diversity. In Peru, where they are indigenous, there are more than 4,500 varieties. Furthermore, we see them not only as food source or biological specimens but also as fellow travelers or even co-pilots. Their journey to space is the beginning of a series of conversations and re-imaginations of future space travel.

More at: https://unearthingfutures.com