artwork

Study for Chromocosmology #1

artwork

Study for Chromocosmology #1

Artwork details

Name:

Study for Chromocosmology #1

Year:

2025

Medium:

EPO-TEK 301-2 and colour pigments on alumina ceramic tile

Dimensions:

25mm x 25mm x 2mm

Artwork:
Study for Chromocosmology #1

This study is the first in a series of artworks that explore how outer space can act as an active co-creator of artistic creation. By exposing colour pigments and materials to atomic oxygen, vacuum, and unfiltered solar radiation, the works are transformed by forces beyond human control. What begins as a minimal composition returns as an altered surface—marked, eroded, and reshaped by space itself.


At the same time, these works function as a living color study. Each pigment becomes a probe, revealing how space alters hue, depth, and brilliance over time. This chromocosmology is both aesthetic and experimental: a color theory that treats space not as backdrop but as an active collaborator, generating new palettes that could never exist on Earth.

hand holding a ceramic tile

Simulations

These simulations model the projected state of the Astromorphic Chromocosmology in space.

The model grabs the real-time position of the International Space Station (ISS) and plots it on a globe. It then uses a custom physics model to calculate and simulate the current space weather environment and its effect on the space exposed tile.

Colour samples

Placement of the colour samples on the space-exposed tile and colour shift prediction over a 6 month exposure window, animated over a 5 second period.

Colour plot

CIELAB colour plot and linear colour shift prediction over a 6 month exposure window, animated over a 5 seconds period.

Tile Situational Awareness

Realtime geographic plot of the location of the space-exposed tile and simulation of key environmental parameters. Custom physics model.

Tile Cam

Realtime simulated animation of the space environment 'as seen by the space-exposed tile'.

Space Situation

6 Month plot of a simplified space weather environment. Custom physics model.

Astromorphic Exposure Index
A combined indicator of how “harsh” the environment is for the tile. It blends UV radiation, atomic oxygen flux and eclipse fraction into a single 0–1 scale, giving a quick sense of how strongly the space environment is sculpting the surface at any given time.

Astromorphic Exposure Index
A combined indicator of how “harsh” the environment is for the tile. It blends UV radiation, atomic oxygen flux and eclipse fraction into a single 0–1 scale, giving a quick sense of how strongly the space environment is sculpting the surface at any given time.

Astromorphic Exposure Index
A combined indicator of how “harsh” the environment is for the tile. It blends UV radiation, atomic oxygen flux and eclipse fraction into a single 0–1 scale, giving a quick sense of how strongly the space environment is sculpting the surface at any given time.

UV (W/m²)
Estimated ultraviolet irradiance on the nadir-facing tile. Higher values mean stronger UV bleaching, yellowing and crosslinking of binders, directly driving photochemical ageing of pigments and epoxy.

UV (W/m²)
Estimated ultraviolet irradiance on the nadir-facing tile. Higher values mean stronger UV bleaching, yellowing and crosslinking of binders, directly driving photochemical ageing of pigments and epoxy.

UV (W/m²)
Estimated ultraviolet irradiance on the nadir-facing tile. Higher values mean stronger UV bleaching, yellowing and crosslinking of binders, directly driving photochemical ageing of pigments and epoxy.

AO (atoms/cm²·s)
Estimated atomic oxygen ram flux at the spacecraft altitude. This is the primary erosive agent in low Earth orbit, acting like a hyper-reactive sandblaster that etches organics, roughens surfaces and can gradually thin exposed layers.

AO (atoms/cm²·s)
Estimated atomic oxygen ram flux at the spacecraft altitude. This is the primary erosive agent in low Earth orbit, acting like a hyper-reactive sandblaster that etches organics, roughens surfaces and can gradually thin exposed layers.

AO (atoms/cm²·s)
Estimated atomic oxygen ram flux at the spacecraft altitude. This is the primary erosive agent in low Earth orbit, acting like a hyper-reactive sandblaster that etches organics, roughens surfaces and can gradually thin exposed layers.

Space weather
A normalized index derived from the synthetic F10.7 solar flux. It represents the current level of solar activity driving the upper atmosphere: “quiet” corresponds to low EUV input; “stormy” signals swollen thermosphere, enhanced drag and more aggressive AO conditions.

Space weather
A normalized index derived from the synthetic F10.7 solar flux. It represents the current level of solar activity driving the upper atmosphere: “quiet” corresponds to low EUV input; “stormy” signals swollen thermosphere, enhanced drag and more aggressive AO conditions.

Space weather
A normalized index derived from the synthetic F10.7 solar flux. It represents the current level of solar activity driving the upper atmosphere: “quiet” corresponds to low EUV input; “stormy” signals swollen thermosphere, enhanced drag and more aggressive AO conditions.

Thermosphere H (km)
Effective scale height of the thermosphere, used here as a proxy for how “puffed up” the upper atmosphere is. Larger values indicate an expanded, denser thermosphere and therefore higher particle fluxes and drag at the ISS altitude.

Thermosphere H (km)
Effective scale height of the thermosphere, used here as a proxy for how “puffed up” the upper atmosphere is. Larger values indicate an expanded, denser thermosphere and therefore higher particle fluxes and drag at the ISS altitude.

Thermosphere H (km)
Effective scale height of the thermosphere, used here as a proxy for how “puffed up” the upper atmosphere is. Larger values indicate an expanded, denser thermosphere and therefore higher particle fluxes and drag at the ISS altitude.

Solar β (deg)
The solar beta angle, i.e. the angle between the Sun and the orbital plane. Low |β| means the ISS repeatedly dives into long eclipses each orbit; high |β| means shallow or no eclipses and long continuous sunlight, which strongly changes the thermal cycling of the tile.

Solar β (deg)
The solar beta angle, i.e. the angle between the Sun and the orbital plane. Low |β| means the ISS repeatedly dives into long eclipses each orbit; high |β| means shallow or no eclipses and long continuous sunlight, which strongly changes the thermal cycling of the tile.

Solar β (deg)
The solar beta angle, i.e. the angle between the Sun and the orbital plane. Low |β| means the ISS repeatedly dives into long eclipses each orbit; high |β| means shallow or no eclipses and long continuous sunlight, which strongly changes the thermal cycling of the tile.

Sun limb angle (deg)
Angle between the direction to Earth’s center and the direction to the Sun as seen from the ISS. Values near 90° correspond to the Sun grazing the horizon; smaller angles mean the Sun is below the limb, larger angles place it well above, shaping the visual sunrise/sunset geometry in the tile-cam.

Sun limb angle (deg)
Angle between the direction to Earth’s center and the direction to the Sun as seen from the ISS. Values near 90° correspond to the Sun grazing the horizon; smaller angles mean the Sun is below the limb, larger angles place it well above, shaping the visual sunrise/sunset geometry in the tile-cam.

Sun limb angle (deg)
Angle between the direction to Earth’s center and the direction to the Sun as seen from the ISS. Values near 90° correspond to the Sun grazing the horizon; smaller angles mean the Sun is below the limb, larger angles place it well above, shaping the visual sunrise/sunset geometry in the tile-cam.

Eclipse fraction (min/orbit)
Estimated number of minutes per orbit that the ISS spends in Earth’s shadow. Higher eclipse times mean stronger day–night thermal cycling and more frequent transitions between heating and radiative cooling for the tile.

Eclipse fraction (min/orbit)
Estimated number of minutes per orbit that the ISS spends in Earth’s shadow. Higher eclipse times mean stronger day–night thermal cycling and more frequent transitions between heating and radiative cooling for the tile.

Eclipse fraction (min/orbit)
Estimated number of minutes per orbit that the ISS spends in Earth’s shadow. Higher eclipse times mean stronger day–night thermal cycling and more frequent transitions between heating and radiative cooling for the tile.

Temperature (°C)
Modelled equilibrium temperature of the white alumina tile, balancing solar input and Earth infrared against radiative cooling. It provides a first-order view of the thermal loads driving expansion, contraction and any temperature-sensitive pigment behaviour.

Temperature (°C)
Modelled equilibrium temperature of the white alumina tile, balancing solar input and Earth infrared against radiative cooling. It provides a first-order view of the thermal loads driving expansion, contraction and any temperature-sensitive pigment behaviour.

Temperature (°C)
Modelled equilibrium temperature of the white alumina tile, balancing solar input and Earth infrared against radiative cooling. It provides a first-order view of the thermal loads driving expansion, contraction and any temperature-sensitive pigment behaviour.

Day phase / LST
Local solar time beneath the ground track, folded into a simple “day phase” (night, dawn, morning, midday, afternoon, dusk). It anchors all other parameters in a familiar daily cycle, linking the abstract orbital dynamics back to a human sense of time of day.

Day phase / LST
Local solar time beneath the ground track, folded into a simple “day phase” (night, dawn, morning, midday, afternoon, dusk). It anchors all other parameters in a familiar daily cycle, linking the abstract orbital dynamics back to a human sense of time of day.

Day phase / LST
Local solar time beneath the ground track, folded into a simple “day phase” (night, dawn, morning, midday, afternoon, dusk). It anchors all other parameters in a familiar daily cycle, linking the abstract orbital dynamics back to a human sense of time of day.

© 2013–2025

Created by Arno. Curated by Space.

© 2013–2025

Created by Arno. Curated by Space.

© 2013–2025

Created by Arno. Curated by Space.

ARNO

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