"Michael Najjar - outer space book published - Introduction essay by Buzz Aldrin
Berlin based publishing house DISTANZ has launched Michael´s first comprehensive book publication on the "outer space" series.
Press text:
One hallmark of Najjar's creative drive is the decidedly empirical hands-on approach he adopts. The performative aspect or "living through" his motifs, the artist believes, is essential. He began work on his current series at Russia's Star City by embarking on some of the same rigorous training modules taken by future astronauts and cosmonauts. Defying physical limitations, Najjar pushed his body to the extreme in a grueling series of stratospheric and zero-g flights, centrifuge and spacewalk training sessions, recording the events on camera with a view to probing how extreme physical duress affects his own body's sensory systems. The cultural dimensions of cutting-edge space technology, its implications for future insights into the Universe, and the repercussions it holds for our society are further key issues in his work. This book offers fascinating insights into Najjar's preparatory training for his spaceflight, and presents the first cycle of works from the "outer space" series.
With special essays by Buzz Aldrin, Anousheh Ansari, Andreas Beitin, Pierre Cox, Lord Norman Foster, Michael López-Alegría and Sir Tim Smit together with a conversation between Camilla Péus and Michael Najjar.