THE NEW ERA IN SPACE

 

«I believe that this nation should commit itself

 to achieving the goal,

before this decade is out,

of landing a man on the moon

and returning him safely to the Earth.»

 

 

 

 

Scene no 79: John F. Kennedy (Louis Marx and Company toys, plastic figurine, made in Hong Kong) in front of a Satellite launch rocket (Caltex toys, plastic missile, with box, made in Western Germany) and the Gemini space capsule (We Toys, plastic spacecraft, friction drive, detachable nose-cone, opening doors and removable astronauts, with box, made in Hong Kong).  

The statement: From the speech of U.S. President John F. Kennedy on May 25, 1961 (as he stood before a joint session of Congress).

DIVINE WIND

 

«There is no fear to stop me.

There is no anger to stop me.

There is no love to stop me.

There is no death.»

 

 

 

 

Scene no 78: Kamikaze airplane (Oxford diecast 1:72 scale model Kawasaki Hein Ki61 KAI-Hei of HQ Chutai, 224^th Sentai, Chofu, Tokyo, Winter 1944/45) soaring through the clouds in the sky. Surrounded by the spirits of the glorious ancestors (ARGO Toy Soldiers Samurai warriors). Beneath the warlike wings, the cherry blossoms (Gean, Prunus Avium, WILLS’s CIGARETTES collectable cards, Flowering Trees & Shrubs, card no 21 from a series of 50).  

The verses: From World War II Japanese Kamikaze pilots Death Poetry.

EOSTRE

«Eosturmonath has a name which is now translated 

“Paschal month” 

and which was once called after a goddess of theirs named 

Eostre, 

in whose honour feasts were celebrated in that month.»

 

 

 

 

Scene no 77: The goddess Eostre (MEGO Candi fashion doll made in Hong Kong) surrounded by symbols of fertility like hares and eggs (old plastic squeeze and dime store toys made in Greece from unknown manufacturers).  

The text: From “De temporum ratione” by the English Catholic monk St. Bede.

BALLAD OF BATTLE

 

«Father, I honor thee;

Not for earth’s hoards or honors we here are contending;

All that is holy our swords are defending:

Then falling, and conquering, I honor thee.

God, I repose in thee.

 

God, I repose in thee;

When the thunders of death my soul are greeting,

When the gashed veins bleed, and life is fleeting,

In thee, my God, I repose in thee.

Father, I call on thee.»

 

 

 

 

Scene no 76: German soldiers (KOBER SPIELWAREN semi-flat zinnfiguren, Bavarian army Nr.2767 Infanterie im Gefecht, made in Austria) taking positions on a battlefield (LOTT’S BRICKS, solid stone building bricks and trees – British made).  

The lyrics: From the poem “Prayer During Battle” by Korner.

ΤΙΝΤΙΝ ΤΗΕΑΤRΕ

 

«The child will be gripped by the excitement of Tintin, the comedy, even farce.

The adult will additionally find political satire and parody, puns and prescience.»

 

 

 

 

 

Scene no 75: Bianca Castafiore (Hard plastic figurine) sings in the center of the stage, while well-known supporting actors of the troupe dance around her: Rascar Capac, Alcazar, Fakir, Foudre Benie and professor Philippulus (Figurines Tintin Collection). Tintin himself and Captain Haddock are watching the performance from their private balcony (Tintin Theatre and Finger Puppets).

(All pieces are HERGE/MOULINSART editions).

The text: Βy Michael Farr (from the introduction to the book TINTIN The Complete Companion).       

RETURN TO LAUNCHING RAMP

 

«No one gets out of childhood alive.

Like the gravitic pull of the moon on the tides of Earth, we never escape what was done to us, what we did, what we learned, what we didn’t learn, where we went, and what we ate when we were children.»

 

 

 

 

Scene no 74: Space rockets (Battery operated, KY Yoshino toys Apollo 15 and TN Nomura toys Solar X7) ready to intercept flying saucers in our solar system (Saucers Club, wooden bagatelle pinball with striking space graphics).

The text: Βy Harlan Ellison (from the introduction to the book BLAST OFF!).       

THE LAST TRUE KING

«Roi, le seul vrai roi de ce siècle, salut, Sire,

Qui voulûtes mourir vengeant votre raison

Des choses de la politique, et du délire

De cette Science intruse dans la maison,

 

De cette Science assassin de l’Oraison

Et du Chant et de l’Art et de toute la Lyre,

Et simplement et plein d’orgueil en floraison

Tuâtes en mourant, salut, Roi, bravo, Sire !

 

Vous fûtes un poète, un soldat, le seul Roi

De ce siècle où les rois se font si peu de chose,

Et le martyr de la Raison selon la Foi.

 

Salut à votre très unique apothéose,

Et que votre âme ait son fier cortège, or et fer,

Sur un air magnifique et joyeux de Wagner.»

 

 

 

 

Scene no 73: King Ludwig II (Preiser figure 29018) in front of the scenery of a forgotten dream world.

Castle ruin (Noch 58602 scale HO), trains of the era (Marklin HO 41071 and 94099, homage to Ludwig, special edition train carriages), the Swan (Lineol composition animals), Neuschwanstein (Phil Goods plastic castle for cookies).

The poem: «To Ludwig II of Bavaria», by Paul Verlaine.