CaixaForum Girona hosts the premiere of the exhibition Orbital views, which will give visitors the opportunity to admire photographs of the Earth captured by European Space Agency (ESA) satellites during their environmental monitoring missions. Drawing on the valuable material produced by these missions, the exhibition raises awareness of the close connections between our planet’s systems and the need to protect them.
The director of CaixaForum Girona, Anna Colomer; Ars Electronica Solutions project manager Marion Friedl; Michael Booth, Earth observation outreach and data visualisation content coordinator at the European Space Agency (ESA); and the scientific adviser for the exhibition, Anna Ruiz, today presented Orbital views. Our planet from space.
The exhibition, which will be on view at CaixaForum Girona until 9 February 2027, invites visitors on an emotional and educational journey to discover the beauty and dynamism of the Earth as seen from space, while also seeking to inspire them to recognise the need to care for our planet.
The exhibition draws on material collected by the network of satellites operated by ESA and the European Union, the world’s largest space-based Earth observation system. Its satellites combine radar, multispectral cameras and altimetry to continuously monitor the planet’s environment, providing open data free of charge to everyone worldwide.
The exhibition explains how Earth observation satellites work and immerses us in the major interconnected domains that make up the Earth system and are monitored by satellites such as those of the Copernicus Sentinel constellation and Meteosat, among others. These include: the atmosphere, where they measure pollutants such as carbon monoxide and ozone, revealing the invisible footprint of human activity in the air we breathe; the hydrosphere and cryosphere, where they document changes in oceans, rivers and lakes, as well as flooding and the retreat of glaciers; the biosphere, where they monitor agricultural land and track deforestation in real time; and the geosphere, where they detect volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and urban transformations.
Human activity, understood as part of this global system – the anthroposphere – interacts with all these domains and contributes to their transformation, both positively and negatively. Comparing images captured at different points in time highlights the value of Earth observation in understanding these changes and reflecting on our relationship with the planet and environmental transformation.
A strong interactive component runs through the exhibition from start to finish, thanks to the collaboration of Ars Electronica Solutions, experts in technological innovation working at the intersection of art, science and society. This interactivity allows visitors to discover new aspects of satellites and our planet when they touch one of the various physical and projected elements featured in the exhibition.
As is customary at CaixaForum, the exhibition is accompanied by a programme of complementary activities that delve deeper into the subject. Highlights include the discussion Can we analyse our climate from space?, part of the series Explain it to me. Scientific answers to everyday questions, which will bring together Dr Javier Martín Vide, director of the Fabra Observatory, data journalist Karma Peiró and the audience. They will explore the tools now available to science to understand more clearly what is happening to our planet, as well as how this knowledge can be used to make more sustainable decisions.
Visitors can also take part in a guided tour or an interactive family tour. In addition, families with children aged three and over can visit the reading and play area on selected dates, where reference books, games and other materials will be available to help them experiment, explore and learn more about our planet. For school groups, the programme also includes a presentation for teachers and tours tailored to different educational levels.
About Ars Electronica Solutions
Ars Electronica Solutions conceives, designs and realises interactive, multisensory experiences for temporary and permanent exhibitions, brand environments, trade fairs and events.
Since 2011, the Ars Electronica division has been developing tailor-made solutions for international clients, combining creative concepts, innovative technologies and immersive storytelling.
In close collaboration with its partners, Ars Electronica Solutions creates individual projects that make complex topics accessible, open up new perspectives and bring messages to life in compelling ways.
From the initial idea and concept development to implementation, operation and further development, Ars Electronica Solutions provides comprehensive support throughout the entire process, drawing on Ars Electronica’s decades of experience and its international network spanning art, technology, science and society.
