TX-1
TX-1, after return from space; spheres had been moved to a different vessel for weight reasons; credit, Adriana Knouf
TX-1, after return from space; spheres had been moved to a different vessel for weight reasons; credit, Adriana Knouf
TX-1, after return from space; spheres had been moved to a different vessel for weight reasons; credit, Adriana Knouf
TX-1, three resin spheres with embedded materials, each approximately 4-5mm in diameter; pre-launch photo; credit, Adriana Knouf
TX-1, spironolactone fragment embedded in resin sphere, approximately 4-5mm in diameter; pre-launch photo; credit, Adriana Knouf
TX-1, Vivelle Dot patch fargment embedded in resin sphere, approximately 4-5mm in diameter; pre-launch photo; credit, Adriana Knouf
TX-1 was given the Award of Distinction in Prix Ars Electronica 2021!!!
TX-1 launched to the ISS on 2020-03-07 at 0450UTC!
TX-1 returned to earth on 2020-04-07 at 1850UTC!
The enchanting Earth is too-often made inhospitable to those marked as transgender. To survive we xenomogrify ourselves through social and biological technologies, altering our surfaces, our viscera, our molecular balances. None of us have been to space even if we possess somatic knowledges of deep bodily transformations, necessary experiences for extraterrestrial environments.
TX-1 launches bits of my hormone replacement medications, marking the first-known time that elements of the transgender experience orbit the earth. TX-1 includes a fragment of my spironolactone pill, a slice of my estradiol patch, and a miniature handmade paper sculpture, included to gesture towards the absent-yet-present xenoentities of the cosmos. A symbolic exodus to an orbit high above, the eventual return of TX-1 to Earth is also a sign of resilience, of not being disposed, of coming back to thrive once again.
This project is selected through MIT Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative’s first international artwork open call to the ISS and the launch opportunity is provided by the initiative. I also want to acknowledge support from faculty research funds at Northeastern University.
Please contact asknouf@tranxxenolab.net for press inquiries.
Awards
Video
Documentation from the ISS
Photos
Video
Infos
We received video and images from the Sojourner2020 sculpture from the ISS during its time onboard the station.
Credit: Xin Liu, MIT Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative.
Credits
Concept and fabrication: Adriana Knouf
TX-1 box design and modeling: Felipe Rebolledo
Additional modeling and rendering: Adriana Knouf
Kennedy Space Center footage: Adriana Knouf
Sojourner2020 images and ISS footage: Xin Liu, MIT Space Exploration Initiative
Launch and orbit footage: NASA
Editing: Adriana Knouf
TX-1 was selected through MIT Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative’s first international artwork open call to the ISS and the launch opportunity was provided by the initiative.
Additional support: Northeastern University
Special thanks: Claudia Pederson, Špela Petrič, Miha Turšič
Other credits
