Signals Sound Lab – kristie rowe

NASA Console

1969 Moonlanding

Wood, acrylic, aerosol paint, glass, steel, LED electrics, bees wax, seeds, birds egg, paper, found objects.

Installation inside the Signals Sound Lab at Old Customs House / Artsource commissioned by Will Axten and Gaëtan Schurrer

Cast resin buttons with assortments of silk organza, bees wax and seeds – pomegranate seeds, jacaranda seeds and vintage glass beads captured inside. Lit from underneath.

Features

Push buttons which light up with LED electronic features and fit original NASA screen equipment.

Hand screen- printed text collaborated from recordings of communication between astronauts and control centre on the first flight to the moon on Apollo 11 in 1969.

some text relates to the labeling seen on the equipment through research of available imagery as well as colloquial language that resonated regarding space wear and travel at the time.
‘Snoopy-hat’,

NASA MOOLANDING 1969

Twang-quility Console – name created from the recording of the astronauts who accidentally said “Twang-quility” instead of “Tranquility” while on radio from space. Twang felt apt as it had a stylised sound reference.

The plaque on the wall

Hatched bird egg, acrylic, mirror, rocket cap fire toy, photo transfer of original NASA Control room with consoles.
Mirror reflects the built console artwork with wax filled ceramic coffee cup and glass ashtray.

The console shows traces of human element, the cigarette and coffee cup as well as bringing in textures that felt more human or natural such as bees wax, ceramic, glass and seeds captured in resin.