In 2018, artist Tavares Strachan launched a 3U satellite into space for a three-year orbit around the sun, an act of scientific exploration. This project is one facet of his boundary-pushing practice now being surveyed in his first major monograph.
Strachan's work involves immense, often inaccessible scientific and historical research. Yet, its output is designed to be broadly engaging, challenging conventional notions of art.
This monograph will likely serve not just as a retrospective, but as a critical re-evaluation of how art can intersect with science, history, and public engagement, potentially influencing future interdisciplinary artistic practices.
The Explorer-Artist: Beyond the Gallery Walls
Tavares Strachan's commitment to experiential research knows no bounds. In 2018, he founded the Bahamas Aerospace and Sea Exploration Center (BASEC) and launched a 3U satellite into a three-year solar orbit, Colossal reports. His audacious feats extend beyond, including walking to the North Pole, training as an astronaut in Russia, and launching a sugarcane-fuelled rocket, according to theguardian. Such endeavors redefine the very concept of an artist's studio or medium, often culminating in powerful public displays.
Reclaiming Narratives and Engaging the Public
Strachan actively reclaims forgotten histories. In 2018, he compiled a 2,400-page volume with 15,000 entries on individuals and events omitted from the Encyclopedia Britannica, Colossal notes. This exhaustive historical reclamation meets the public in striking ways. A large-scale model of the Yarmouth, Marcus Garvey's WWI collier, floats in a gallery pool, according to theguardian. A neon sign on the Hayward Gallery's exterior boldly proclaims 'You belong here', theguardian reports. Through these works, Strachan doesn't merely document omitted narratives; he demands their inclusion, forging an expansive definition of belonging within art and knowledge.
Blurring Art and Science: A New Frontier
For Strachan, the artistic process is monumental scientific exploration, challenging what 'making art' means in the 21st century. His BASEC satellite launch, Colossal reports, and personal feats like astronaut training, theguardian notes, blur the lines between artist, scientist, and historian. He transforms inaccessible scientific spectacle into deeply human, inclusive messages.
His work ensures historical reclamation is vibrant and tangible. The large-scale Yarmouth model in a gallery pool, theguardian observes, re-animates figures like Marcus Garvey, making their legacy emotionally resonant. This blend of extreme research and public engagement suggests the art is the journey of discovery itself, actively inviting marginalized narratives into the mainstream.
What is Tavares Strachan's artistic style?
Tavares Strachan's artistic style is highly interdisciplinary, blending extreme scientific exploration, historical research, and public engagement. He incorporates elements like space travel, astronaut training, and extensive archival work into his practice to challenge conventional art boundaries.
Where can I buy the Tavares Strachan monograph?
The first major monograph surveying Tavares Strachan's expansive practice is being released this month by Phaidon. It can be purchased through major booksellers and art book distributors.
What are the key themes in Tavares Strachan's work?
Key themes in Strachan's work include the reclamation of omitted histories, the assertion of belonging for marginalized figures, and the blurring of lines between art, science, and exploration. His projects often use monumental scales to make inaccessible knowledge broadly engaging.
If Strachan's monograph captures the full scope of his interdisciplinary vision, it will likely redefine how we perceive the boundaries between art, science, and history for years to come.
