The Artist Expedition Society and Lumen have come together to present On Ancient Earth, an exhibition of artworks paying homage to the relationships we have with what lies beyond the outer edges of our Earth’s atmosphere.

The exhibition will take place outdoors at night in Central Australia on Arrernte country as a part of The Desert Festival. Our unique venue, The Earth Sanctuary, sits on 100 acres of bushland, and specialises in sustainable astronomy tours. 

Central Australia has a uniquely clear view of the night sky, which is of international importance in a world whose ever brightening cities and towns are blocking out a view that humanity has had since its conception. For many artists, this part of the world may feel as far away as the stars we look up at. The exhibition comes to a close on the night of the micromoon - a full moon that happens when the Moon is at the furthest point from the Earth in its orbit. On this night, at 6.55pm the moon will rise as the sun sets. 

The artworks that make it into the exhibition will be able to see the stars and the moon, and the stars and the moon will be able to see the artworks. There is a very real chance that the exhibition will take place with a limited human audience due to COVID-19; the night sky may be the primary live audience. 

The exhibition will be documented and re-exhibited online for a wider audience. 

Due to the remote location of our exhibition, proposals that are accepted will rely on the feasibility of logistics. We are primarily requesting artworks that can be shared via DropBox - eg. film files, sound art files. We will source speakers and projectors locally, and will endeavour to source any other equipment needed as requested. 

Proposals must address the relationship that you have with the night sky. You can submit old or new artworks, but they must be completed and ready for delivery on 30th August, one month before the exhibition. The installation of each piece will be site specific, and you can request a specific site in your application. Images of potential installation spaces can be found at the side of the description. Projecting onto surfaces that already exist in the environment is encouraged, however we can source flat projection surfaces where necessary. This exhibition embraces experimentation. 

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There is a chance that we will secure funding to run a series of workshops and artist talks for a digital and live audience via conference call. To be considered for this aspect of the exhibition, please express your interest in your application. 

We welcome applications from all artists, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. 

The Judging Panel will consist of representatives from The Artist Expedition Society and Lumen. A decision will be made and all applicants informed of the outcome by 1st August. 

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