a l i c e
o l i v e r
APOLLO
APOLLO was a collaborative site specific exhibition that took place in the Swansea Observatory, also known as Tower of the Ecliptic. The Observatory was designed by architect Robin Campbell in 1989 for the local astronomical society. The space was used to lead public observing sessions and educate the public about astronomy. But in 2010 the Swansea Observatory closed down due to money issues. So, for the first time in almost a decade, The Swansea Observatory was open to the public again, just for 4 days.
Five student artists, including myself, curated an immersive installation that referenced the previous use of the building and paid homage to its history before the building is turned into a restaurant.
The installation looks into the intersection of art, poetry and science, that is extremely prevalent within the history of Swansea.
Fossilised light nothing disappears, through all is rearranged, lost are they
who are unamazed.
Blasted light stardust are we luxivores
- the cosmos conscious grown,
primed for voyage outward home.
Pulsing light supernovae tune the earth, atoms
dance atoms
sing, they kill die who
seek to cling.
Dizzying light more suns
than the billions, whom
we starve as we feast,
if all gave all would
receive.
- Nigel Jenkins
Working with what was already there, we created an immersive installation that consisted of a space blanket terrain, multiple sound pieces, a telescope with a photo intervention and a flag on the beach. We wanted our installation to reference the amalgamation of space and poetry, blurring the line between science and art that is prevalent in Swansea.
The exhibition is titled APOLLO after the moon landing that happened 50 years ago, and also after the Greek God of poetry, Apollo.