Textiles and Spaceflight

A London Arts & Humanities Partnership Event

28 May 2025

Dana Research Centre & Library

Science Museum, London

Drawing upon Varvara’s Keidan Shavrova’s recent research placement at the Science Museum, part of her practice based AHRC LAHP-funded PhD at the Royal College of Art, this discussion explored: the textile dimensions of spaceflight and the often-overlooked representations of women, both in the flight industry and the museum context. The intersections of space technology, curatorial practice, and art making were also considered. How, where and/or when do these disciplines cross pollinate? Varvara’s new artwork, The Blade (2025), was shown as part of this event.

Speakers: Varvara Keidan Shavrova, Artist & PhD student, Royal College of Art • Fatoş Üstek, Curator & Writer • Dr Rebecca Mellor, Curator of Art, Science Museum • Dr Jennifer Thatcher, Art historian, Curator & British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, Manchester School of Art • Doug Millard, Deputy Keeper, Technologies & Engineering, Science Museum • Dr. Barbara Brownie, Associate Dean (Education), School of Communication, Royal College of Art

Moderator: Dr. Marquard Smith, Deputy Director for Collaborations and Partnerships, The London Arts and Humanities Partnership, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Visual Culture

Introduction

The panel discussion features experts from both art and science backgrounds with insights into current trends, challenges, and opportunities within interdisciplinary research and practice. LAHP researchers can learn from the experiences and strategies shared by these leading professionals, and join a dynamic discussion with prominent curators, academic staff, and other researchers who address the evolving relationship between science and art.