Art
Space Steps: The Moon and Beyond
The Royal Photographic Society hosts this exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing.
On 20 July 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin (‘Buzz’) Aldrin became the first men to set foot on the surface of the Moon. Space Steps commemorates this incredible milestone, exploring the journey of Apollo 11, illustrated by some of the most remarkable and iconic images ever captured on film.
The exhibition traces the story of the earlier Mercury and Gemini space missions and the Apollo programme up to 1969, also paying tribute to the crucial role that women played in the space programme.
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Recognising the importance of space exploration today and providing a contemporary focus, the exhibition will present Ascension, an interactive installation by Mexican-British photographer Monica Alcazar-Duarte, exploring how space scientists working in facilities across Europe, are engaging in a new space race.
Also on display are two very rare cameras associated with the historic moon landings.
From 5-7 July the RPS will display the Hasselblad HDC space camera lent by Hasselblad AB, Sweden on its only UK showing. Visitors will be able to see up close one of the original cameras used by the Apollo astronauts during their training programme.
For the duration of the exhibition film producer Keith Haviland will be loaning a special Hasselblad camera. Keith comments “this Hasselblad was personally selected by astronaut Wally Schirra for his flight on Mercury-Atlas 8. It is particularly important because it took the first high-quality photographs from Earth orbit, showing us images of a single, fragile planet without borders. Such images of a unified Earth had a profound effect on the astronauts and on people back on Earth. It also began a long association between Hasselblad and the American space program.”
Space Steps: The Moon and Beyond is curated by Deborah Ireland, whose recent book Hasselblad and the Moon Landing explores the relationship between photography and space.
July 5-Sept 29, Thur 10am-6pm / Fri 11am-7pm / Sat & Sun (and Bank Hols) 10am-5pm. For more info, visit rps.org/spacesteps
Pic credit: NASA
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