Artechouse's new immersive show weaves NASA imagery into a psychedelic journey through the cosmos. See the stunning art here

In 2007, NASA TV released a series of videos called “Beyond the Light” to educate the public about the work of Chandra, its space telescope that used X-ray light to, as a narrator dramatically put it, “explore the most ominous and magnificent features of the cosmos and reveal what our eyes cannot.”

Fifteen years later, NASA has a new multi-billion dollar kit orbiting Earth, the James Webb Space Telescope, and its multimedia output has been significantly improved. It unveiled a new psychedelic experience, courtesy of a collaboration with Artechouse, the pioneer of multi-site immersive exhibitions that boasts best-in-class projection technology.

Beginning in the converted confines of Chelsea Market century-old boiler room, “Beyond the Lightwhich runs through August 31, is the product of extensive collaboration between Artechouse AV technicians and a range of NASA experts, including astrophysicists and those from its own visualization studio.

Still from “Beyond the Light”. Photo: courtesy Artechouse.

“We believe that art, science and technology can combine to deliver a compelling experience,” Sandro Kereselidze, Creative Director of Artechouse, said in a statement. “This exhibit takes the science and data that already exist and artistically brings it to life in a way that has never been done before.”

The star may be the dazzling galactic data captured by NASA’s newest telescope, much of which is presented in a 25-minute video (or as Artechouse calls it, “a cinematic journey through a captivating audiovisual interpretation of the way we experienced light in time”) But the exhibition also touches on multiple aspects of the cosmic activities of the 65-year-old American agency.

This includes moon cycles and mankind’s folkloric obsession with our nearest neighbor. There is an exploration of how today’s technology-dependent world would be affected by a major solar storm, or the Carrington Event as scientists call it in reference to the solar flare of 1859. Short answer: the electrical infrastructure is collapsing and people are suffering.

Still from “Beyond the Light”. Photo: courtesy Artechouse.

Also interesting is an investigation into the minds of the five Mars Rovers by generative artist Gene Kogan. During their missions, planetary exploration devices were put on standby in order to save battery power. Kogan imagines what the machines could have dreamed of: a project with echoes of Refik Anadol mechanical hallucinations.

Artechouse has emerged strongly from the pandemic by launching a series of mega-sensory shows that have drawn huge crowds and revenue (an adult ticket for “Beyond the Light” costs $25). It has fallen prey in some corners to being an expensive place to take social media photos (his most recent show, “Magentaverseexplores Pantone’s color of the year). Despite the detractors, her latest show is very colorful and looks cool.

See more images from “Beyond Light” below.