IOCOSE exhibition critiques NewSpace rhetoric through satirical world-building at Bologna's CUBO Unipol
The collective IOCOSE is showcasing the solo exhibition 'Pointing Nemo. Oltre lo spazio verso gli abissi,' curated by Federica Patti, at CUBO Unipol in Bologna until May 26, 2026. This exhibition, located at CUBO in Porta Europa and Torre Unipol, engages with the NewSpace narrative following NASA's Artemis II mission and the vision for a lunar outpost by 2028. Established two decades ago, IOCOSE critiques the colonial and capitalist narratives surrounding space exploration. The installation 'Moving Forward' (2025) features a treadmill representing perpetual motion, while Torre Unipol displays an 8-meter Point Nemo Tower. IOCOSE contends that the rhetoric of space serves capital interests, obscuring economic oppression and social inequality as mere progress, prompting viewers to reconsider the notion of true advancement.
Key facts
- The exhibition runs from February 6 to May 26, 2026.
- It is held at two venues: CUBO in Porta Europa and CUBO in Torre Unipol in Bologna.
- Curator Federica Patti oversees the presentation.
- IOCOSE, founded 20 years ago, uses satirical world-building to critique NewSpace rhetoric.
- Works include 'Moving Forward' (2025), a treadmill installation, and the fictional agency Nemo Heights.
- The show responds to NASA's Artemis II mission and plans for a lunar outpost by 2028.
- IOCOSE argues space exploration rhetoric has shifted from national or scientific goals to capital-driven motives.
- An interview with IOCOSE is published in Espoarte #133.
Entities
Artists
- IOCOSE
- Federica Patti
- Jeff Bezos
- Vincenzo Ruocco
Institutions
- CUBO Unipol
- NASA
- Espoarte
- Nemo Heights
Locations
- Bologna
- Italy
- Point Nemo
Sources
- Espoarte —