Space Race

Outer Spaces, the Kunsthaus Graz’s 2027 annual program focus, implies a journey beyond the familiar and the accepted. It showcases artistic practices that venture into the (critical) exploration of scientific, philosophical, and interdisciplinary concepts of (world) space, time, and human perception.

Outer space—as a realm that extends beyond our comprehension and knowledge—remains one of the central focuses of human inquiry and has always sparked our imagination. Science, mythology, and religion have all been inspired by the observation of the heavens and by conceptions of the cosmos. It seems that even today, outer space continues to serve as a catalyst for fantasy and fiction, but also—more vehemently than ever—for power and dominance.

The group exhibition Space Race explores ideas about the construction, investigation, and perception of the universe. These ideas are often examined through minimalist and conceptual art practices, which offer an important starting point for considering how “spaces”—in the broadest sense—are always socially, politically, and economically constructed. Another key aspect of the exhibition is the examination of the social implications of “space”: the notion that all space has always been subject to property relations. Original notions that outer space is collectively owned and used for non-military purposes are rapidly crumbling. As resources on Earth become increasingly scarce, new space programs are driven not only by human curiosity but also by the desire to gain access to new territories and resources. The ultimate race for power in space is already in full swing.