Zero Gravity Adventures

Alparslan Öztürk

Lanzarote’s unique volcanic landscape is the reason it is used by the ESA as a training site for astronauts on future Moon and Mars missions. This extraterrestrial atmosphere is immediately noticeable, especially at night.

The barren and sterile landscape creates a tension through its coexistence with life and tourism. The island is also renowned for its rigorous conservation efforts in protecting this landscape. How will humans navigate and engage with nature in space, once they reach it? In childhood, the narrative is often radiant, utopian and peaceful and shows a progressive and united human race reaching the stars. However, with the growing reality of colonizing our solar system and the advancement of space tourism driven by rich and conservative private companies and actors, this vision feels increasingly dystopian.

Using two different methods, the work shows the attempt to search for the extraterrestrial in the here and now, with the concept of seeing the island as the Moon and Mars’ future. Night shots under moonlight on the one hand — tourism as a negative on the other.