Urbanautica

APOLLO 19

ANDREA ALESSIO
Artist page on Urbanautica

© Andrea Alessio from the series 'Apollo 19', 2014

«Apollo 19 was originally planned to land in the Hyginus Rille region, which would allow study of lunar linear rilles and craters. The original July 1972 landing date was extended when NASA cancelled the Apollo 20 mission in January 1970. Finally NASA cancelled Apollo 18 and 19 on 2nd September 1970 because of congressional cuts in FY 1971 NASA appropriations. I have always loved the images taken on the surface of the moon by the astronauts and now I am fascinated by the pictures of the missions on Mars. I believe that the point of view of the photographer is a pivotal element of the photographic language. By positioning the camera we gather valuable information about the subject. The fractal dimension of these landscapes demands attention, slows down our gaze, as we try to figure out whether the dune in the foreground is a faraway hill or a ruffle created by the last snowfall. The more we look the more our perception becomes sharper. The more details we discover the more we get lost in the “infinite space”. The contrast between the whiteness of the surface and the deep black sky has an estranging effect on humans, whereas it is quite normal in the universe on the planets and satellites devoid of an atmosphere. The stark and bare light penetrates and carves the surface, giving prominence to crystals, ruffles and crevices, modelling soft curves which make matter appear almost weightless.» Andrea Alessio

© Andrea Alessio from the series 'Apollo 19', 2014