The bio-poetic investigation by Agnes Meyer-Brandis is based to a text of Francis Godwin (1562-1633), author of the book “The Man in the Moone” and will focus on the behaviour of Moon Geese during the eclipse. The phenomenon was observed in a tiny sand island, called Scarabeus, in Ob river nearby Novosibirsk town. Thirteen Moon Geese in total participated in the experiment and the results of the work are being analysed and prepared for the public presentation. More information of hte preparation phase of the work can be found in: www.ffur.de/the-moon-goose-experiment/moongoose1.html

Mireia aims to understand and find new dimensions of the surrounding world through her research projects. With Zoolar Eclipse she invited one hundred Zoo visitors to actively participate in observing the changes to the animals and themselves during the eclipse. She chose five species of animals of the Zoo - gibbon, icebear, marten, owl and liger - and the behavior of these "test animals" was registered and written down during the total solar eclipse by the zoo visitors on the postcards, designed by Mireia. The postcards, together with eclipse glasses and a pen, formed the Zoolar Kit. The animals were chosen following the artist´s personal interests and also taken in account the suggestions of Seppo Turunen, the director of the Korkeasaari Zoo in Helsinki, and etologist and emeritus professor in Barcelona University, doctor Jordi Sabater Pi in Catalunya. During her stay in Novosibirsk Zoo, from 25th July until the 3rd August, Mireia observed and draw animals when sun rose, in the midday and in the evening, just before the sunset. During these unhurried walks in the Zoo area she learned to know the personal of the Zoo and the daily routins of the animals and their caretakers. She was able to build up very warm relationship with them despite the fact that the common language didn´t exist. The texts by the russian participants are now being translated and will be published as soon as possible throught the blog. Some of the drawings by Mireia are available in flickr.

Tommi Taipale is a photographer, specialising in portraying Russia during his long, slowly advancing journeys to the periphery of this huge country. His work, called Journey to the Eclipse, is a reportage of the six week adventure in between of Finland and Siberia, using bicycle and hitchhiking as a principal means of transport. Through his photographs and diary notes, he offers an original perspective of the dimensions and citizens of Russia, Novosibirsk and Siberia. On 1st of August, the date of the total solar eclipse, he had just arrived to Altai mountains.

Founded in 1947, the Zoo is the oldest in Russia, spread over 53 hectares, and offers a home to 634 species and 10 928 specimens. The Zoo specializes in breeding endangered species. The directors of the Zoo, Dr.Rostislaw Shilo and Olga Shilo invited the expedition group to the Zoo, offering us unlimited access to all zoo installation, and housing for nine days´stay in an apartment situated inside the zoo. Once explained the goals of the expedition director Shilo didn´t hesitate in supporting the project. He did not only offer us a nice accomodation, but also helped us further in achieving rare moon geese for Agnes´experiment and in gaining visibility in the Siberian media, among other things. We are very grateful for his and the all zoo personnel support, they were very generous and shared their knowledge with pleasure.

Presentations and exhibitions of works of the 1st Curated Expedition: 22nd August 08 / Institute for Russia and Eastern Europe, Helsinki // Night of Arts /// Presentation by Tommi and Ulla Taipale 6th March - 6th June 09 / Kiasma Mediatheque, Helsinki // Exhibition Expedition to the Total Eclipse 4th June 09 / Eclipse Happening // Kiasma Theatre and URSA observatory, Helsinki 21st August 09 / Institute for Russia and Eastern Europe, Helsinki // Night of Arts /// Presentation by Tommi Taipale 12th November - 13th December 09 / Sala Municunill, EspaiDos // Exhibition Zoolar Eclipse by Mireia C. Saladrigues

There are hardly any unexplored areas of the Earth, but the Time of Discovery is not over yet. Instead of losing sleep trying to find undiscovered places or struggling to survive remote and inhospitable environments such as the Polar Regions or Outer Space, we can use our energies to observe intriguing phenomena and endeavour to experience new sensations elsewhere, far beyond the ideas of the commercial film or video game industry. “Curated Expeditions” is dedicated to observing and experiencing fascinating earthly phenomena through artistic investigation. In parallel, Capsula wants to revive leisurely traveling experiences, which have been cast aside by the frantic pace of modern day life. Walking, bob-sleighing, swimming, hitchhiking, rowing, sailing, trains and submarines all personify the Capsula Philosophy of Voyage. The project is curated by Ulla Taipale.

EXPEDITION TO THE TOTAL ECLIPSE: Zoo of Novosibirsk, FRAME Finnish Fund for Art Exchange, VR (Finnish Railways), Venäjän ja Itä-Euroopan Instituutti (The Institute for Russia and Eastern Europe), , Finnish Embassy in Moscow, Generalkonsulat der Bundesrepublik Deutschland in Nowosibirsk (General Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany in Novosibirsk), AECID (Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo), A MINIMA magazine Agrupación Astronómica de Sabadell (Spain), AirBerlin, Helsinki University - Kilpisjärvi Biological Station (Finland), University of Art & Design, Pori Derpartment (Finland) , ARPI - professional photostore (Barcelona), NCCA Ekaterinburg (National Centre for Contemporanean Art, Russia), Collection Sabater Pi (Barcelona), Korkeasaari Zoo (Helsinki), SAS Royal Hotel (Helsinki), Sodexo Oy / Hostel Satakuntatalo (Helsinki), Antares Ltd (Barcelona), AirBerlin, Fire Department Cologne, Tesimax (Germany) EXHIBITION IN KIASMA: PIXELACHE09, HIAP (production residence in Suomenlinna/Helsinki, AVEK, Finnish Art Council, Kiasma Mediatheque, Goethe Institut, Galería Angels Barcelona, Agrupación Astronómica de Sabadell (Spain), Anneli Ojala / The Institute for Russia and Eastern Europe, Ramon Llull Institute