How will humans adapt to a life lived almost entirely indoors?
Who will get to govern this new settlement?
Will a 687-day year transform how we work and rest?
What rituals and beliefs might emerge to cope with the sensory deprivation of a monochrome planet?
Students from the MA Material Futures programme at Central Saint Martins, UAL and invited guest experts hosted an afternoon of performance, discussion and debate on what the future of human life on Mars might be like. At a time when the 21st Century Race for Space is led by dominant economic and political forces, this event asked what alternative visions might be offered for life on the Red Planet before humans begin to settle there.
Over the course of the afternoon, participants will experienced five immersive performances that present every-day scenarios, covering topics ranging from birth on Mars to food-rituals and sport. Following these, invited guest experts and students led a series of discussions that explores different futures for life on the planet, and the roles design might play in responding to its unique environmental, social and political conditions.
‘The Everyday Martian’ is a collaborative project between the
MA Material Futures programme at Central Saint Martins, UAL
2019
Curiosity is one of the innate properties that characterises the human race. It is curiosity that drives us to relentlessly question, explore and discover new and uncharted worlds. It is probably also curiosity which drove the first astronauts to gaze up at the universe and dream of setting foot on other unknown planets. However, curiosity is also quickly overrun by stronger economic, political and social motivations. The race to land the first man on the Moon not only emphasised the complex political landscape of the moment, but also permeated into the modus vivendi of citizens all around the globe. The Race for Space became a dream, an ideal that many wished to pursue. Now, the 21st century holds its own Race for Space. The obsession we have developed with the ‘Red Planet’ goes beyond the aesthetic and visual imaginaries created during the 60’s and 70’s, it holds something much more meaningful and powerful: the promise of life after Earth. We are all familiar with this promise, a promise created by some of the greatest entrepreneurs, architects, engineers and politicians of our time. In a moment when our world is under severe environmental and social crises, we look at the sky and dream of a fresh start, a better future.
