Professor ParkAt first, I wondered why the two of us had been paired for this conversation. But then I realized there was an interesting connection between our fields. In the 19th century, the photographer Félix Nadar (Gaspard-Félix Tournachon)¹ took the first aerial photographs of Paris from a hot-air balloon. His original purpose was to make maps and observe enemy forces, but it also reflected the human desire to leave the ground and fly like a bird. I wrote a paper examining records of our early ventures into the skies. And now, of course, we’re reaching even farther, into space. That’s where I began to see how my work might intersect with Professor Lee’s.

Professor LeeThat’s fascinating. I thought it might be difficult to find a connection between our fields, given that Professor Park studies photography in the Department of Aesthetics. But on reflection, our journey into space began with a desire to look back at Earth from above. Even now, a single photograph can reveal what’s happening in space to the world, giving us much to reflect on.

¹ Félix Nadar (Gaspard-Félix Tournachon): A French painter and photographer whose portrait photographs are considered masterpieces of 19th-century photography.

Professor LeePerhaps it’s written into our genes. We humans are naturally curious about what lies beyond our sight. Even children, without ever being taught, try to push past the boundaries around them. Early explorers were much the same. They set out to discover what lay beyond the horizon, only to find themselves back where they started because of the shape of the Earth. Then our gaze shifted to the next horizon: space beyond the sky.

Professor ParkI think it’s because we’re constantly reflecting on our own limitations and trying to move beyond them. As Professor Lee said, that impulse is written into our DNA. We wonder, “What if I could fly like a bird?” or “What if I could paint like Picasso?” We long for what we don’t have. The less we see, the more we seem to want. Artists may be driven by a similar urge to create something no one has ever seen before.

Professor ParkBefore the 19th century, people read about the emperor in the newspaper every day without ever knowing what he looked like. The advent of photography changed that, allowing people to see the emperor’s face for the first time. Photographs could be reproduced in the millions, even tens of millions, earning them the label “technologically reproducible images.” The written word once connected people to the world, but it gradually gave way to technical images with the birth of photography. Technical images have since expanded from still photographs to moving images, changing the very way we perceive the world and becoming, in effect, a new language.

Professor LeeI actually brought a few photographs with me. One shows Earth rising as seen from the Moon. We’re used to seeing the sun rise here on Earth, but in this photograph, it’s our planet that appears above the lunar horizon. Another is an image of our planet taken by Voyager 1 as it journeyed toward the edge of the solar system. Carl Sagan² called it the “Pale Blue Dot.” Isn’t it strange to picture billions of people living out their lives on that tiny dot, fighting, feeling jealous, and loving one another?

² Carl Sagan: An American astronomer and science writer. He named Voyager 1’s 1990 image of Earth, taken from the edge of the solar system, the “Pale Blue Dot” and later raised awareness of its significance through his book of the same name.

A model of CAS500-4, a next-generation mid-size satellite developed for agricultural and forestry monitoring

Professor LeeRockets are simply a means of opening the way. Without a path, though, even imagination has its limits. No one knew what they would find at the summit of Everest until the first expeditions made their way there. Once they did, others could follow and see what was possible. Space is no different. In the past, even putting something into space was difficult. But once the way opened, new ideas began to emerge. What role rockets will ultimately play is up to us.

Professor ParkOnce the way is open, cameras can capture what’s there without us having to make the journey ourselves, as your photographs show. For many people, those images are their first encounter with space. So, in a sense, what we send aboard a rocket helps determine what we get to see together.

Professor LeeExactly. That’s why I place just as much emphasis on how we use rockets as on how we launch them. A rocket is simply a means of carrying cargo. What matters more is what we put on board, who we deliver it to, and what kind of joy it can bring.

Professor ParkTo me, they are essentially the same. Imagination is design in its raw form, while design is imagination refined. I prefer the word “dream.” But some students today seem to have no dreams, while others have already given up on many of theirs. Take our department, for example. Many students begin their studies with dreams of pursuing art, only to face the realities of life and gradually let those dreams go.

Professor LeeI feel the same way. I see imagination and design as a chicken-and-egg question. We often judge what is possible based on what we already have, so the answers we find tend to remain within that frame. It’s like having a fixed salary: you naturally gravitate toward what you can afford, while anything too expensive may not even cross your mind. Then someone told me to ignore my current speed and direction and instead mark a point where I want to be. Keeping my eyes on that point would eventually steer my course toward it.

Professor ParkI agree. Taking on a challenge means setting reason aside for a moment. The commonly held view is usually reasonable, but boldness means pushing beyond the bounds of reason itself.

Professor LeeOur students have been taught how to excel academically, but they often feel awkward when asked to let their imaginations run wild. Still, they’re bright, and I’m sure they’ll get the hang of it after a few tries. Rather than offer advice, I’d rather give them opportunities to take on challenges freely.

Professor ParkI’m actually cautious about encouraging students to take on challenges. It can be hard to find a job with a degree in aesthetics, and parents worry about that. What I do tell students who have something they truly want to pursue is to put aside society’s standards for now. When they let go, the fear disappears, and they can give their all. In fact, when they follow the path they really want, some of the things they once gave up may come back to them later.