New Museum in New York unveils a simulated spaceship interior to showcase over 100 pieces of Eastern European art

Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Thank you for signing up to Wallpaper. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
It's not everyday that a replica of a space shuttle pops up in New York City, or anywhere else in the world for that matter. Always one to deliver the unexpected, the New Museum in Manhattan has transformed its fifth floor gallery space to simulate the inside of a spaceship for it's newest exhibition, 'Report on the Construction of a Space Module', in conjunction with the Eastern European contemporary art network, Tranzit.
The organisation, which consists of autonomous but interconnected creative groups based in Austria, Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, has chosen to exhibit 117 art pieces from the region against this fictional background, which draws from space shuttles that appeared in science fiction films during the Cold War period. The minimalist, white installation opens with a chamber that comes complete with a transporter portal, which is surrounded by video screens showcasing slideshows of Soviet Modernism and other archive imagery, audio and video footage (from 1957 to present day) from around the region.
A second chamber leading off this first one is dominated by one large screen, which in addition to showing a loop of 25 films, interviews and video commentaries with artists, will serve as a communication launch pad where the show's artists will be able to communicate with people back in their hometowns during special public programming.
This Mission Control-esque room leads on to a smaller video installation, and then finally an antechamber, which has been filled with over 75 artworks, ranging from sculpture and video works to print and drawing, and appears like a cultural time capsule of sorts. Tranzit's challenge to the traditional institutional approach towards presenting artworks is really at the core of the group's message. 'We hope for the exhibition to make the facts of time relativity, cultural translation and spatial distance not only explained by curatorial conventions (i.e. text and wall labels), but also by visitors as they move inside the space and experience it as explorers,' they say.
Organised as part of the 'Museum as Hub' initiative, New Museum's international partnership programme, Tranzit's art historical approach to contemporary art works and new commissions exposes the cultural lexicon of this Eastern European region in a refreshing way. The spaceship setting not only recalls the futuristic fantasies that were prevalent on the European side of the Iron Curtain, but also highlights the ideological significance of the space race in the region.
Eastern European art network, Tranzit, who selected the 117 works shown, transformed the fifth floor of the museum into a spaceship, complete with a transporter portal, inspired by the many Soviet science fiction films of the 'space race' era
One such film is Jindřich Polák's 'Ikarie XB-1 (Voyage to the End of the Universe)', 1963.
The spaceship portal is surrounded by video screens showcasing slideshows of Soviet Modernism and other archive imagery, audio and video footage (from 1957 to present day)
In a second chamber, one large screen shows a loop of 25 films, interviews, video commentaries, and will serve as a launch pad for the artists to communicate with people back in their hometowns during special public programming
A still from Anna Artaker's film, '48 Heads from the Merkurov Museum (after Kurt Kren)', 2012
Three films selected by Tranzit's intra-European network - connecting Austria, Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia - are shown in an empty green room
Finally an antechamber, which has been filled with over 75 artworks, ranging from sculpture and video works to print and drawing, appears like a cultural time capsule of sorts
'Unlearning Instincts', 2013
‘Nuage (Cloud)’, 2009
‘Sculpture of the Twentieth Century’, by Stano Filko, 1968-69
'Mirror on the Wall IV', by Zsuzsi Ujj, 1989/2013. Budapest
Tranzit's challenge to the traditional institutional approach towards presenting artworks is really at the core of the group's message. Here they place works like Mondrian's 'Composition with Yellow and Blue' 1963, 1979 and 1996, on a shelf, intermixed with other artists' works
Denisa Lehocká's 'Untitled', 2013 sits in front of 'Cactus',1975/2013 and 'Flowers', 1971/2013 and 'Open Forum - Game on an Actress' Face', by KwieKulik, 1971
'Flowers', by Krzysztof Zarebski, 1971.
Austrian artist Heinz Frank's 'Daybed (unique example)', 1969-70 sits on the floor of the antechamber
'We hope for the exhibition to make the facts of time relativity, cultural translation and spatial distance not only explained by curatorial conventions (i.e. text and wall labels),' says Tranzit, 'but also by visitors as they move inside the space and experience it as explorers'
The spaceship setting not only recalls the futuristic fantasies that were prevalent on the European side of the Iron Curtain, but also highlights the ideological significance of the space race in the region
ADDRESS
New Museum
235 Bowery
New York, NY 10002
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Pei-Ru Keh is the US Editor at Wallpaper*. Born and raised in Singapore, she has been a New Yorker since 2013. Pei-Ru has held various titles at Wallpaper* since she joined in 2007. She currently reports on design, art, architecture, fashion, beauty and lifestyle happenings in the United States, both in print and digitally. Pei-Ru has taken a key role in championing diversity and representation within Wallpaper's content pillars and actively seeks out stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children, and is currently learning how to drive.
-
Birkenstock and Tekla offer clogs and pyjamas made to ‘still the mind’
Birkenstock 1774 and Danish lifestyle brand Tekla mine a natural affinity with a collection made for ‘contemplation and comfort’
By Jack Moss Published
-
Gabriel Tan launches Experimental Editions, a design brand embracing the beauty of imperfection
Experimental Editions is a new brand born from Gabriel Tan's Origin Made with the aim of elevating the artisanal process
By Giovanna Dunmall Published
-
New London restaurant Pollini opens at Ladbroke Hall with interiors by Vincenzo De Cotiis
Architect Vincenzo De Cotiis and chef Emanuele Pollini create Pollini, Ladbroke Hall's new restaurant
By Malaika Byng Published
-
Blue Green Works's lighting champions a new aesthetic in American design
Manhattan-based design studio Blue Green Works fuses sensuality and masculinity to create mellow, mood-enhancing lighting with visual impact
By Pei-Ru Keh Published
-
Blue Green Works introduces alluring new lighting collection
Inspired by iconography, American design studio Blue Green Works introduces five new lighting ranges
By Rosa Bertoli Published
-
First look inside Centurion New York by Yabu Pushelberg
Centurion New York is an expansive new space for American Express’ ‘black card’ members. Its interior designers Yabu Pushelberg give us a tour
By Tilly Macalister-Smith Published
-
Exclusive peek at artfully curated home in Jean Nouvel’s 53 West 53
RR Interiors' latest furnishing project – 61A at 53 West 53 – highlights art, architecture and city views inside Jean Nouvel's monumental New York skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan
By Martha Elliott Last updated
-
Sculptural ceramic lamps from Brooklyn’s In Common With and Danny Kaplan
‘Terra’, a new collection of ceramic lamps featuring tactile glazes, puts Brooklyn studio In Common With and ceramicist Danny Kaplan in the spotlight
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated
-
Sight Unseen launches furniture line with Bestcase
Editorial platform Sight Unseen worked with sheet metal specialist Bestcase to launch a collection of 1970s-inspired furniture in collaboration with Home Studios, Studio Anansi and Thévoz-Choquet
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated
-
Roll & Hill and Post Company's lighting designs in Inness are inspired by Georgian bell jars
Brooklyn-based studio Post Company created a new lighting collection for Roll & Hill, inspired by bell jar lanterns and conceived for country refuge Inness
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated
-
Trnk refines its namesake furniture collection to spotlight creatives of colour
The reinvigorated Trnk Collection is curated by founder Tariq Dixon and draws from its creative community, including pieces by Studio Anansi, Michael K Chen and Farrah Sit
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated