Orbital Debris and the Tragedy of the Commons
Quadrature (Juliane Götz + Sebastian Neitsch), with Giulia Foscari
Date: 07 May 2025
Image Courtesy of UNA/UNLESS © Marco Valmarana, 2025
Near-Earth orbit is no longer empty: since 1957, over 21,000 satellites have been launched, and today more than 11,800 remain active—while thousands of defunct satellites and millions of fragments drift in unstable, high-velocity paths. Flying above the Kármán Line, which separates the Atmosphere from Outer Space, these orbits fall under the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.
The audiovisual performance by artist duo Quadrature—joining us at the Planetary Embassy of the Voice of Commons, with support from LAS Art Foundation—reveals the aesthetic and political choreography of orbital objects. Space Junk Orbit reframes orbit not as a distant void but as an active Global Common, raising the urgent question: how can we govern it responsibly? With no binding international rules to manage debris, overcrowding, or orbital traffic, we face escalating risks: collisions, uncontrolled re-entries, and the Kessler Syndrome — endangering human life and disrupting vital satellite services. In conversation with Giulia Foscari, this session confronts the unfolding tragedy of the Commons, calling for art to give voice to Outer Space and inspire new planetary governance.
The audiovisual performance by artist duo Quadrature—joining us at the Planetary Embassy of the Voice of Commons, with support from LAS Art Foundation—reveals the aesthetic and political choreography of orbital objects. Space Junk Orbit reframes orbit not as a distant void but as an active Global Common, raising the urgent question: how can we govern it responsibly? With no binding international rules to manage debris, overcrowding, or orbital traffic, we face escalating risks: collisions, uncontrolled re-entries, and the Kessler Syndrome — endangering human life and disrupting vital satellite services. In conversation with Giulia Foscari, this session confronts the unfolding tragedy of the Commons, calling for art to give voice to Outer Space and inspire new planetary governance.
Quadrature is a Berlin-based artist collective working at the intersection of art, science, and technology. Juliane Götz and Sebastian Neitsch, collaborating as Quadrature since 2015, explore technology as a tool for reading and (re)writing realities. Their transdisciplinary approach incorporates time-based performance, installation, classical sculpture, and two-dimensional works, often engaging with data and the limits of the human mind. Their practice investigates the methods and myths tied to the exploration of the world and the universe. Quadrature's work has earned them numerous accolades, including honorary mentions at the Prix Ars Electronica in 2015 and 2018. They have also received scholarships from the Kunstfonds Bonn, Akademie Schloss Solitude, and LaBecque, as well as a fellowship from PODIUM Esslingen and the Hertz-lab at the ZKM Karlsruhe. Their works are exhibited globally in festivals and exhibitions.
Image Courtesy of UNA/UNLESS © Marco Valmarana, 2025