The third episode of season 2 of From the Moon explores what is reality, or all that which is supposed to be scientific fact, and that which is a purposefully invented creation, something which is ultimately fictional. Fact vs Fiction sees the host of the podcast, David Plaisant, converse with research-driven design and art studio Nonhuman Nonsense about its project Planetary Personhood. A Universal Declaration of Martian Rights, part of the exhibition Unknown Unknowns. An Introduction to Mysteries.
As well as entertainment and escapism Science Fiction has always served as a cultural mirror, reflecting the aspirations, preoccupations and subversions of the real world. The fantasy worlds that are created for us, say as much about real life societies than the artistic vision of one particular author.
Nonhuman Nonsense, Planetary Personhood. A Universal Declaration of Martian Rights
The project is called "Planetary Personhood" and it's a kind of interplanetary campaign that's pursuing radical space decolonization. Our practice is centered around the nonhuman and the relationship to the nonhuman. So we were trying to find what would be the being that will be the furthest away from human, something that was kind of non living, non sentient, something like that.
Nonhuman Nonsense, Planetary Personhood. A Universal Declaration of Martian Rights
David Plaisant is a freelance journalist and writer based in Italy. He began his career in London, where he worked in architecture and design advocacy groups and then as a design writer and radio producer for multimedia brand Monocle.
Nonhuman Nonsense is a research-driven design and art studio creating near-future fabulations and experiments somewhere between utopia and dystopia, consisting of Leo Fidjeland, Linnea Våglund, and Filips Stanislavskis. The studio is based between Berlin and Stockholm.