Looking Right Back At You
Maya Kalinowski
Looking up at the sky brings on feelings of awe, introspection, and even existentialism. But what draws humans to Space and the greater unknown? How unique is the Earth within this vastness? In what ways are the two more similar than different? Looking Right Back At You is a three part double-sided publication and postcard set that fosters a conversation between humans and Space.
The viewing experience is split into two perspectives. On the left side, ‘Looking In’ analyzes the fragility of Earth, as viewed by astronauts and satellites from Space. The book is bound in wood, and features speckled paper to highlight the natural essence of our planet. On the right side, ‘Looking Up’ contemplates the possibilities of life beyond Earth through various initiatives observing Space. The book is bound in black acrylic, and contains metallic paper to evoke the materials used for Space exploration. Both sides are accompanied by box sets containing Risograph printed postcards that show the first photos of Earth and Space respectively.
The two introductory books and box sets are adhered with magnets to a larger central book. Here, the project’s core notion is encapsulated by highlighting the aesthetic relationships between Earth and Space. Image comparisons are reinforced by texts on self-similarity and individual poetic expressions. Through looking ‘Up’ at Space and ‘In’ at the Earth, viewers are confronted with feelings of isolation, unity, and the reality of the human experience.