Simon Denny - Optimism
by Murray Crane
Simon Denny's 2023 artwork "Optimism" delves into the space industry and the fascination with extraterrestrial travel and habitation. Based in Berlin, the New Zealand artist creates 'megastructures' from Rocket Lab's patent diagrams for rocket engine parts. These large-scale, 3D-printed sculptures act as 'object-based portals' between the digital and physical realms.
Augmented reality (AR) adds another layer, projecting narratives of space colonies, futuristic living, and various cultural references onto these structures. "Optimism" reflects on the sources of future innovation, blending technology, history, and speculative futures to examine humanity's ongoing relationship with space exploration.
Auckland Art Gallery
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