Proxima Kósmos at Getty PST Open House

On March 1, 2025, Proxima Kósmos debuted at the Getty PST Open House, marking the first public engagement and digital launch of this speculative planetary system. Developed as part of Future Humans at the Berggruen Institute, the project brings together scientists, designers, and science fiction writers to model possible planetary futures and challenge assumptions about habitability, evolution, and intelligence beyond Earth.

At Getty PST, a performative lecture brought the project to life, blending rigorous scientific modeling with speculative storytelling. Led by Claire Webb, with planetary scientists Iaroslav Iakubivskyi, Jaco de Swart, and Estelle Janin, the lecture introduced the audience to new planetary environments rooted in scientific plausibility and theoretical astrobiology. The event also featured Kosmologica, an interactive activation that invited the public to engage playfully with speculative astrobiology, generating dialogue around planetary imagination and the limits of known biology.

To accompany the launch, a limited-edition zine expanding the speculative worlds of Proxima Kósmos was released at the Printed Matter Art Book Fair, offering essays, artwork, and storytelling tied to the project’s planetary models.

Collaborators & Contributors

Live Music: Mark Hadley
Production: Waving Productions
Design & Visual Identity: Public/Official
Marketing & Outreach: Ode to Joy