Outer Space Transmitter

2021 – ongoing
Installation
Parabolic antenna, transmitter equipment, radio operating desk

The project involves building and operating a functional radio station through which Mona Schulzek transmits art into outer space. To realize this, she first completed training as a radio operator and passed an examination administered by the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur).

A parabolic antenna forms the technical basis of the transmission, accompanied by a specific symbol system developed by Mona Schulzek: an extraterrestrial alphabet.  At the heart of the project is the question of whether extraterrestrial life is possible – and what communication with an unknown intelligence could fundamentally look like. The project is based on the assumption that art can function as a form of communication that is not bound to spoken language and is therefore, in principle, also detectable by extraterrestrial life. Under the hypothesis that reflection and the capacity for abstraction are fundamental characteristics of intelligent life forms, Schulzek proposes that extraterrestrials must be conceived not only as intelligent, but above all as creative beings. From this perspective, the “language of art” becomes a central key: a possible interface for communication with extraterrestrial entities.

» [Mona Schulzek] verbindet in der wie eine riesige Antenne ins Weltall ausgerichteten Skulptur Outer Space Transmitter ihre eigene wissenschaftliche Neugier mit einer spekulativen Annäherung an einen Möglichkeitsraum. Schulzek kommentiert mit ihrer Arbeit zugleich die vielfach in Science-Fiction-Narrativen vorgetragenen und von der Realität gedoppelten Besiedlungs- oder Eroberungs- und Kolonisationsfantasien des Alls durch den Menschen. Die von ihr gebaute, voll funktionsfähige Funkstation dient zur friedlichen Kontaktaufnahme, regt einen Dialog an und ruft zu Verständigung auf statt zu einem „Krieg der Welten“. Für ihre Funkstation entwickelte sie ein abstraktes Alphabet als Symbolsprache, die einer Kommunikation jenseits kultureller Referenzrahmen dienen soll. Die Fähigkeit Wesen voraus und geht unter dieser Vorstellung davon aus, sich unsere Perspektive um eine kosmische Dimension erweitern könnte. «

Julia Wallner
Director of Arp Museum Bahnhof Rolandseck

Exhibited in public space (2021 – 2026):

1 Alicante, Spain
2 Krakow, Poland
3 St. Pölten, Austria
4 Cologne, Germany
5 Graz, Austria
6 Cologne, Germany
7 Dortmund, Germany
8 Krems, Austria
9 Berlin, Germany
10 Cologne, Germany
11 Düsseldorf, Germany
12 Berlin, Germany
13 Recklinghausen, Germany
14 Xanten, Germany
15 Datteln, Germany
16 Breckerfeld, Germany

Outer Space Transmitter is presented as part of the Grand Snail Tour by Urbane Künste Ruhr and was conceived in 2021 in cooperation with Regioparl and Donau-Universität Krems and financed with funds from Forum Morgen.

3D modelling and digital construction by Paul Ketz and Dilara Yesilova.

Radio support by Amateurfunk Pulheim.