
You probably have interesting plans this summer. But frankly, unlike artist Ted Southern, they probably do not include constructing a functional spacesuit. Southern (an artist-in-residence at Eyebeam in New York) is currently partnering with Moscow-based spacesuit engineer Nikolay Moiseev on a project called Full Frontal Design, and the team is designing spacesuits together. Tonight at Eyebeam, the pair will unveil their newest spacesuit, the “Frontier Prime.” The event will include arm and leg burst tests, limb torque demonstrations, and an interactive vacuum chamber glove box. Here, we speak to Southern about his latest endeavor.
AW: Are you trained in physics and engineering, or is most of your education autodidactic or experience-based?
TS: I am not formally trained as a scientist, though certainly I have learned a lot about the physics of pressure, spacesuit history, and anatomy along the way. Autodidactic is a good word for my spacesuit knowledge.
Certainly I owe a lot to Nikolay’s experience at Zvezda [Russia’s contribution to the International Space Station]. His influence keeps me honest.
AW: I think most people regard the building of technology as a science-based initiative. How do feel being an artist relates to that?
TS: I have always felt the two fields (art and science) share a lot, and I find my process as a scientist/engineer is not different from that as of sculptor. As an artist, I have always experimented with different materials, designed things to operate and function, and often tried to build for the human body. Science is a process, a method of thinking, and often artists are required to think scientifically. I think real innovation is often hampered by strict methodology.
AW: Your girlfriend, Flora Gill, designs the women’s collection Ohne Titel with her partner Alexa Adams. Do you two ever match wits?
TS: Flora and I have mutually beneficial interests. We have helped each other think through ideas, source materials and perfect techniques. Thankfully our work is different enough not to compete.
AW: Does the costuming and propping in space movies ever inspire you to create workable models? They had cool gold space suits in Danny Boyle’s Sunshine.
TS: Certainly spacesuit costuming is interesting, I am a fan of Dune‘s
suits, and the Sunshine suits were cool. Unfortunately movie spacesuits never seem realistic to me. I always find where something wouldn’t work or isn’t accurate.
AW: Would you ever want to travel in space?
TS: Yes! I am sometimes scared of rough air at 40,000 feet. But I would definitely go to 400,000 feet.
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