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A Journey: The Near Future
Nicolai Howalt
published by: Fabrikbooks
year: 2022
designed by: Rasmus Koch Studio
format: 34 x 25 cm
no. of pages: 80
no. of illustrations: 30
texts by: Author, Harald Voetmann; Professor Anja C. Andersen, Ph.d.) Astrophysics – Niels Bohr Institute; associate professor Morten Bo Madsen, Lic. Techn. (Ph.d.) in Applied Physics – Niels Bohr Institute
quadtone print (two blacks, grey, silver)
paper: Munken Pure 200 g/m2 / Materica Terra Rossa 120 g/m2
dustcover: 185 g/m2 Sirio Color Ultra Black. Silver print
ISBN: 978-87-998207-9-5

In “A Journey: The Near Future,” artist Nicolai Howalt vividly portrays our yet-to-be-explored red neighbor, located nearly 63 million kilometers away.

In an era marked by significant technological advancements and climatic upheavals, Mars stands as humanity’s next frontier in space exploration. Howalt’s artwork draws inspiration from panoramic photographs captured on the Martian surface by NASA rovers Curiosity, Perseverance, Spirit, and Opportunity. While these digital images offer an unusually detailed, vibrant, and sharp view of the Martian landscape, the same digital precision paradoxically renders the images somewhat distant and surreal, as if seen through the eyes of an emotionless robot.

In “A Journey: The Near Future,” Nicolai Howalt injects a sense of familiarity and human presence into these extraterrestrial landscapes. He achieves this by converting the digital files into photographic negatives, which are subsequently developed into black and white silver gelatin prints within the confines of a darkroom. Through this transformation, the images transcend the realm of digital information and manifest as physical photographs, crafted through the interplay of light, chemistry, and human hands. As a result, the images invite a more sensitive observation—one that extends beyond scientific data collection to embrace existential and historically conscious contemplation.

Among the planets in our solar system, Mars bears the closest resemblance to Earth, a likeness that was even more pronounced billions of years ago. In an era where safeguarding the future of our own planet is paramount, Mars assumes particular significance. Beyond being a window into the universe’s past and the origins of life, the planet offers insights into our collective destiny.

Throughout history, black and white photography has been intimately tied to the presence of a photographer, and in this vein, Howalt infuses the extraterrestrial landscapes with a profound sense of human presence. This juxtaposition brings us into an enigmatic closeness with a landscape that no human has yet set foot on. As the panoramas transition from pixels to silver halides, they cease to be mere products of a robot’s remote vision, instead becoming testaments to human hands and sensibility.

Comprising 30 photographic works and accompanied by textual contributions from luminaries such as Professor Anja C. Andersen—an esteemed astronomer and astrophysicist—physicist Morten Bo Madsen, an associate professor at the Niels Bohr Institute, and the acclaimed Danish author Harald Voetmann, “A Journey: The Near Future” casts an illuminating spotlight on the enigmatic planet. Through their unique perspectives, these contributors delve into Mars’ intricate tapestry, exploring its existential and scientific import from a variety of angles.

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