‘Homo flotantis’. The Aerocene Foundation has even
discussed possible fossil fuel-free flight corridors with
the European Commissioner for Transport.
The foundation shares facilities with Studio
Tomás Saraceno, but is independent from it, supported
by grants, donations and sponsorships. A core team
is connected to a steadily growing global community
of enthusiasts, whose contributions range from
technical support and design to flight tracking and
conducting experiments. The results are then all
shared, open source, as a form of creative communing.
As a way of broadening its research, the Aerocene
community has created around 40 Aerocene Explorer
backpacks. Anyone can borrow one of the backpacks,which contains all the tools you need to conduct your
own solar-powered flight. Individuals and groups are
encouraged to do whatever they want with the kits,
from adding software and hardware, to creating
dance performances, music or poetry around them.
Alternatively, people can build their own Explorer
kits from instructions on the website. When they are
done, they share their results with the Aerocene
community, then hand the backpacks on to whomever
wants one next. ‘If people damage the balloons, they
are encouraged to repair them themselves,’ says
community member Camilla Berggren. ‘As the balloons
get more used they gain all these marks from stitches
and tape, which build history into the sculptures andThe team fills an Aerocene Explorer with air, with much running up and down
the Helenesee beach, in-between families with their picnics358 ∑