Photons of Mars

Långström Minna

Photons of Mars depicts facilities dedicated to interplanetary research, and the people working in these spaces; a Mars rover driver and a worker in the laboratory where the rover’s cameras are made. Filmed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the piece reflects on how such close connection to the Martian landscapes — over time — becomes more than the sum of data derived from photons hitting the robot’s camera sensors. The installation includes a model of the Martian rock, ”Jake Matijevic”, in a glass case. This rock was found on Mars in 2012, and is also featured in the video. One side of the rock was not photographed in detail, and these features are also rough in the model. 

Production Year
2019
Duration
00:17:00
Tyyppi
Asiasana
Original Title
Photons of Mars
Finnish Title

Photons of Mars

English Title

Photons of Mars

Production Countries
Finland
Dialogue
No
Sound
Yes
Cast
Minna Långström (Author), Minna Långström (Cinematographer), Päivi Kettunen (Cinematographer), Mira Calix (Composer), Minna Långström (Director), Minna Långström (Editor), Minna Långström (Script), Pertti Venetjoki (Sound Design), AVEK (Funder), Napafilms Oy (Production Company)
Press Photos
Långström is a media artist and filmmaker. Her artistic work consists of films – short fiction and documentary – as well as cinematic installations, combining moving images with spatial elements. Her work processes tend to be extensive, well researched and interdisciplinary. Her work focuses on social perspectives on technologically mediated narratives and visual technologies, as well as certain political histories and their cinematic influences on the present. The intuitive experience and role of the viewer is a central aspect of her installations.