[Singapore, November 2023] — SPACETAINMENT PTE. LTD. is proud to announce the triumphant return of Yasuo Nomura's groundbreaking space art project, "Eyes on Us" (a.k.a PION Plate). The aluminum plate, measuring 68mm, launched to the International Space Station (ISS) from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 on March 15, 2023, and subsequently attached to the Kibo’s Exposed Facility (EF) experiment module on March 21, 2023, PION Plate has completed a three-month space journey, orbiting the Earth at a speed of approximately 7.9 km per second at an altitude of roughly 400 km.

“On June 30, 2023, the PION Plate made history by returning to Earth after its extraordinary adventure in space, successfully passing inspection by NASA, JAXA, and other relevant agencies. We are extremely proud to retrieve the work, as the inaugural space art project for SPACETAINMENT” commented CEO and co-founder of SPACETAINMENT, Kaho Sakakibara. This achievement marks the first-ever instance of an artwork experiencing space and returning to Earth, as no other artistic creation has been exposed to the space environment and made the journey back home.

Yasuo Nomura refers to the overlapping gaze on this boundary plane, expressed on the artwork, as "PION." The project draws inspiration from Pion theory, discovered by Dr. Hideki Yukawa in 1935, which resonates with Nomura's philosophy of the interconnectedness and unity of the universe. The project team, aptly named "PION United," includes the collaboration of SPACETAINMENT PTE. LTD. as a crucial team member responsible for realizing the logistics of this extraordinary space art project.

"We are excited to announce that the actual PION Plate will make its global debut in the group exhibition 'Cosmic Energy: The Origins of the Universe,' at Nakanojima Center of Osaka University, where Pion theory was born. This exhibition, part of the Osaka Kansai International Art Festival, will take place from December 23 to 28, 2023," said exhibition curator, Masako Shiba, Chief Artistic Director of Spacetainment.

Don't miss the opportunity to witness the historic return of PION Plate and explore the universe's origins at "Cosmic Energy."

About Yasuo Nomura

Yasuo Nomura is a conceptual artist based in New York, originally from Shimane Prefecture, Japan. He graduated from Musashino Art University with a major in oil painting in 2004. In 2018, he participated in the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Overseas Study Program for Upcoming Artists and has been active in New York since. In 2021, he was awarded a three-year production support grant from the Vilcek Foundation, leading to the development of project-based artworks. https://yasuonomura.com/ 

About the Work

PION -Eyes on Us- (a.k.a PION Plate) & PION LaGlobe Tour

The "Eyes on Us" Plate, measuring 68mm, is a marvel of artistic ingenuity with special laser engraving on both sides of an aluminum panel. The front and back panels are superimposed to create a unique image. The front side gazes out into the universe, showcasing the "eye of civilization" that has evolved through human curiosity, adventurous spirit, and the pursuit of exploration. The back side, observing Earth from space, unveils our "inner world," reflecting on who we are and our actions on Earth.

The geometric properties of PION reflect a structure derived from the four-dimensional extension of the five Platonic solids, philosophized as the fundamental forces of the universe since ancient Greek times. Nomura's design for the PION Plate symbolizes the universe as a dodecahedron, representing the remaining four elements with specific polyhedra: tetrahedron (fire), hexahedron (earth), octahedron (air), and icosahedron (water).

As part of the "PION LoGlobe Tour," all five of the engraved plates have been sent to locations representing these elements, embedding the time-space logs of the solar system and Earth's travels through space into the artwork. Nomura's road trip activities, along with Shiba’s live reporting from NASA, equipped with satellite network systems and next-generation TV video systems, were documented and adds an in-depth behind the scenes human story of the PION United team and the artist that brought together this extraordinary collaborative art project to fruition. https://yasuonomura.com/?post_type=post&p=1862 

Exhibition Information

Exhibition Title: Cosmic Energy: The Origins of the Universe

Date: December 23-28, 2023

Location: Nakanojima Center, Osaka University

Participating Artists: Yasuo Nomura, Shlumper, Naoko Tosa

Study - Osaka Kansai International Art Festival vol. 3: www.osaka-kansai.art/en 

About SPACETAINMENT PTE. LTD.

SPACETAINMENT is a global space entertainment firm. Our members in Singapore, Tokyo, New York and Los Angeles collaborate as one team to create completely new values with the goal of making space "the destination of mankind's journey". https://www.spacetainment.com/

Press Contact: 

Yasu Yamazaki Co-Founder, SPACETAINMENT PTE.LTD.

yasu@spacetainment.com