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Space Mottos (2019) is a series of digital collages composed of two primary elements: archival images of space sourced from NASA's online repository, and national mottos collected from Wikipedia. These juxtapositions aim to draw out tensions between the expansive, borderless reality of the cosmos and the deeply rooted, often divisive constructs of national identity.
Jiddu Krishnamurti once remarked that “nationalism is the glorification of tribalism.” Tribalism, as a fundamental human trait, underpins our sense of belonging and identity. Wherever people gather, the tribe forms—defining us, shaping our loyalties, and anchoring our sense of self. But what does this tribal consciousness reveal about us as a species?
When national mottos—expressions of collective ego—are placed against the vast silence of space, their gravity begins to shift. What happens when we view our tightly held identities through the lens of infinity? Do our cultural proclamations retain meaning when held up to the scale of galaxies? Or do they dissolve into something more fragile, more absurd?
Are we bringing to space the same mindset we’ve imposed on Earth—a culture of conquest, ownership, and division? Will the human imprint on the cosmos echo the old patterns of colonization and boundary-making? Or can space offer us an opportunity to imagine beyond the tribal—a chance to embrace a consciousness unbound by the ego's compulsions?
Eckhart Tolle uses the term space consciousness to describe a spiritual awareness that transcends identification with form—material possessions, status, and even thoughts. It represents a freedom from the ego and a deep inner spaciousness, attuned to the infinite. In this context, the series invites viewers to consider how the spiritual vastness of space might prompt a reevaluation of our inherited cultural narratives. Can space help us see not just its own immensity, but also our own limitations—and perhaps, our potential?
