Dear all,

We are pleased to introduce you to the Xu Bing Space Art Residency Program. Since its launch on February 3, 2024, the program has produced 44 artworks by 38 artists, conducted 66 filming sessions, and has continued to draw interest from international art institutions and curators.

With the retirement of the SCA-1 art satellite, the project embarked on its second phase, opening its doors to a wider circle of participants through an open call. This residency program is centered on the fourth artificial satellite of the Star Chain of Arts Project (hereinafter referred to as “SCA-3”). SCA-3 was successfully launched on February 3, 2024, at 11:06 a.m., aboard the Jielong-3 (Y3) Rocket from the waters near Yangjiang, Guangdong, and entered orbit smoothly. The satellite is designed with a three- year operational lifespan.

The Star Chain of Arts Project, led by artist Xu Bing, focuses on launching a series of satellites to create an independent and interconnected space art platform. The initiative aims to fully utilize the capabilities of each satellite to explore and expand the possibilities of interstellar curation. Its goal is to break down boundaries between Earth and outer space, technology and art, and across other disciplines.

Guided by the principles of participation and sharing, Xu Bing has envisioned the Xu Bing Space Art Residency Program as a platform that welcomes artists and individuals from diverse fields, both in China and internationally. Participants are granted shared access to the satellite to realize their art projects, fostering a collaborative environment in which they can develop their own work while collectively exploring and advancing the field of space art. The residency program is jointly organized by Xu Bing Studio and WanHoo Culture Media Co., LTD, with technical support from Beijing Ubinexus Technology Co., Ltd and Chengdu Guoxing Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd

Resources and Support

Following review by the organizing committee, selected proposals will be invited to join the residency program.  Once an agreement is reached with the artist and the project is established, we will grant the project satellite access tailored to the artist's needs and the requirements of their artwork.

All artists will be asked to sign an agreement, which will set appropriate terms for the scope and duration of the project, the expected results, the involvement of third parties, intellectual property rights, licenses and ownership. All electronic files uploaded to the satellite screen are transmitted via a private satellite measurement and control center in mainland China. The satellite project team will try to accommodate the artist's creative requirements as much as possible.

The program does not require any participation fees.

Technical details

SCA-2 Satellite:

Frame from SCA-2 satellite downlinked footage, Orbital Relay, Xu Bing, 2021-2024

A. The low Earth orbit satellite is currently operating at an altitude of approximately 400 kilometers, completing one revolution around the Earth every 90 minutes.

B. The satellite has a display screen facing outward into space, along with a selfie camera. Electronic documents, including images and videos, can be uploaded to the screen via the ground control station, and the selfie camera can capture photos or images against the space environment.

Satellite Display and Camera Specifications

1.Display: a 10.1-inch screen with the resolution of 1280x800 pixels

2.Camera: Camera resolution of 1920×1080 pixels.

3.Uploaded video and image specifications: MP4 or jpg sequence, 1280x800 pixels，single-track duration 180 seconds, 25 frames per second.

4.Returned footage(mp4):1920x1080 pixels, duration 180 seconds, 25 frames per second

C. The satellite is equipped with AI software, an onboard computer, and other capabilities. Artists may access and operate the onboard computer within the scope of the permissions granted to them.

Software Development Requirements for the Satellite Display System

I. Development Environment

1. Operating System

The Satellite Display System runs Ubuntu 18.04 with a graphical interface.

2. Embedded Development Environment

The Satellite Display System is an embedded system. Software must therefore be developed using toolchains and development environments compatible with its system architecture.

II. Software Requirements

1. Software Compatibility

The Satellite Display System runs on the ARM architecture with the NVIDIA Tegra processor. Ensure software compatibility with this architecture and note that software designed for x86 architecture is not applicable.

2. Software Size and Memory Requirements

The total software size must not exceed 200 MB, and runtime memory usage must not exceed 2 GB.

3. Software Library and Driver Compatibility

All software libraries and drivers must be compatible with the hardware and operating system of the Satellite Display System. (NVIDIA provides the JetPack software development kit for the Jetson platform, which includes necessary drivers and tools.)

Possible Ways to Collaborate

We welcome a wide range of collaborative possibilities and look forward to exploring innovative ideas with participants. In addition to creating entirely new works specifically for the satellite project, we are also open to the following forms of collaboration:

A. Integrating satellite resources into an artist’s existing or ongoing Earth-based projects, creating connections and interactions between the satellite project and the work on the ground.

B. Coordinating with an artist’s Earth-based exhibition to create interactions between Earth and space, in partnership with the museum, gallery, or institution presenting the artist’s work. This may include simultaneous presentations on Earth and via the satellite in orbit. We are open to working with the artist’s partner institutions, with the timeline and format of the collaboration to be discussed and agreed upon by the artist, the institution, and the project team.

C. Supporting academic research and exchange in the field of space art, including assisting curators who wish to incorporate the satellite into their research and curatorial projects.

D. The satellite project has successfully collaborated with the Education University of Hong Kong, Space Art and the Astronomy Society of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, and the Beijing Moonshot Academy. We continue to seek partnerships with more educational institutions, encouraging young people to conduct a range of experiments using the art satellite and to develop interdisciplinary ways of thinking across art and technology. We also welcome schools to collaborate on the development of related courses and student groups.

E. To foster exchange among resident artists, participating artists may share satellite resources during the residency period to create works collaboratively or develop separate works that respond to and engage with one another.

F. ......

Application Process

Eligibility:This open call is open to applicants of all ages and nationalities, regardless of their professional or academic background. Applications may be submitted by individuals or groups.

Artwork Requirements: Applicants should use the SCA-2 art satellite and the unique conditions of outer space to create works of space art that are distinct from terrestrial art. Each artist is generally advised to use one to two recording sessions, with each session lasting up to three minutes. For applications submitted by curators or institutions, the allocation of satellite resources will be discussed based on the specific proposal.

Application Timeline

Application Opens: August 1, 2025

Selection and Notification: The satellite project review committee will review proposals as they are received throughout the evaluation period. Selected artists will be notified as soon as a decision is made, after which the specific residency arrangements will be discussed with them.

Residency Period:  Works will be uploaded to the satellite in batches, based on submission order and each project's readiness.

Required Application Materials

1. Resume/Short Bio

2. Personal Statement (no more than 300 words)

3. Residency Proposal

Please submit a proposal that includes, but is not limited to, the work's theme, preliminary concept, and research and collaboration needs.

Submission of Application

Please email all application materials to: sca@xubingstudio.cn

Email Subject Format: Xu Bing Space Art Residency Program OPEN CALL + Applicant’s Name

Due to the high volume of submissions, we are unable to provide individual responses. Contributors whose work is selected will notified directly.

Xu Bing Space Art Residency Program Team

June 30, 2025

About Xu Bing Space Art Residency Program

The Star Chain of Arts Project is led by artist Xu Bing. Guided by the principles of participation and sharing, Xu Bing envision the project as follows: “By inviting artists from China and abroad, as well as individuals from diverse fields, to participate in the Xu Bing Space Art Residency Program, we share access to the satellite, enabling each participant to create their own work. This initiative seeks to integrate space technology with contemporary art, extend the reach of our thought into broader realms, and collectively explore this highly futuristic field.”

The residency program is jointly organized by Xu Bing Studio and Beijing Wanhoo, with technical support from Beijing Ubinexus Technology Co., Ltd and Chengdu Guoxing Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd.