Yuri Baturin
Unity with the Cosmos
EXHIBITION PROGRAM
8 October – 16 November, 2025
Opening: 8 October, 2025 | 18:00
Opening: 8 October, 2025 | 18:00
MIKHAIL SAVITSKY
GALLERY
15 Svobody Square, Minsk
Opening hours: 11:00 – 19:00
Working days: Wednesday – Sunday
Closed: Monday, Tuesday
GALLERY
15 Svobody Square, Minsk
Opening hours: 11:00 – 19:00
Working days: Wednesday – Sunday
Closed: Monday, Tuesday
About the Exhibition
Elena Dombrova
Curator
Curator
The photo exhibition Unity with the Cosmos is not merely a collection of visual records depicting Earth from orbit – it is a profound immersion into the boundless realm of space, experienced through the personal vision of a human being who has truly felt the vastness of the Universe and touched its mystery.
Each photograph is a self-contained story that embodies both awe for the beauty of our planet and awareness of its fragility – a realization that within the infinity of space, Earth is but a delicate, luminous point. The exhibition invites viewers to experience space exploration not only as a triumph of technology, but also as a deeply human and philosophical encounter – one that transforms the inner world of the traveler and leaves an indelible trace on the soul.
The exhibition presents not only photographs capturing Earth and the cosmic expanse in extraordinary detail, but also excerpts from Yuri Baturin’s personal flight diary. These handwritten notes complement the visual narrative, allowing visitors not only to see but also to feel the emotional state of a cosmonaut in orbit – to share his perspective, his sense of awe and introspection.
“From Earth, the starry sky seems cozy, familiar – it glows with the reflection of our planet. But in space, you begin to feel the abstract concept of infinity. In mathematical formulas, that symbol looked quite harmless. Here you understand: the abyss is literally bottomless.” – Yuri Baturin
These words, imbued with philosophical depth, convey the immeasurable grandeur of the cosmos. They reveal not only the technical side of spaceflight, but also the profound emotional and spiritual impact of the infinite upon the human mind.
The exhibition premiered in 1999 at the Polytechnic Museum in Moscow, marking the artistic outcome of Yuri Baturin’s first mission aboard the Mir orbital complex. Organized by the Union of Photographers of Russia with the support of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, the project became a landmark event in the field of space photography and the artistic interpretation of cosmic experience.
In 2001, the exhibition was significantly expanded to include photographs created during Baturin’s second mission – this time aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This addition brought new depth and perspective to the project. As noted by Alexander Baskakov, the first chairman of the Union of Photographers of Russia, the two series – from Mir and the ISS – are strikingly different.
The images from the Mir mission are filled with lyricism, tenderness, and a sense of nostalgia for the Earth seen from afar. The photographs from the ISS, by contrast, are more analytical, structured, and concrete – reflecting a matured gaze, the evolution of both the photographer and the human being behind the lens.
Despite these differences, the two bodies of work form a harmonious unity – a visual meditation on humanity’s relationship with the cosmos, and the transformation of perception that comes with crossing the boundary between the earthly and the infinite.
Each photograph is a self-contained story that embodies both awe for the beauty of our planet and awareness of its fragility – a realization that within the infinity of space, Earth is but a delicate, luminous point. The exhibition invites viewers to experience space exploration not only as a triumph of technology, but also as a deeply human and philosophical encounter – one that transforms the inner world of the traveler and leaves an indelible trace on the soul.
The exhibition presents not only photographs capturing Earth and the cosmic expanse in extraordinary detail, but also excerpts from Yuri Baturin’s personal flight diary. These handwritten notes complement the visual narrative, allowing visitors not only to see but also to feel the emotional state of a cosmonaut in orbit – to share his perspective, his sense of awe and introspection.
“From Earth, the starry sky seems cozy, familiar – it glows with the reflection of our planet. But in space, you begin to feel the abstract concept of infinity. In mathematical formulas, that symbol looked quite harmless. Here you understand: the abyss is literally bottomless.” – Yuri Baturin
These words, imbued with philosophical depth, convey the immeasurable grandeur of the cosmos. They reveal not only the technical side of spaceflight, but also the profound emotional and spiritual impact of the infinite upon the human mind.
The exhibition premiered in 1999 at the Polytechnic Museum in Moscow, marking the artistic outcome of Yuri Baturin’s first mission aboard the Mir orbital complex. Organized by the Union of Photographers of Russia with the support of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, the project became a landmark event in the field of space photography and the artistic interpretation of cosmic experience.
In 2001, the exhibition was significantly expanded to include photographs created during Baturin’s second mission – this time aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This addition brought new depth and perspective to the project. As noted by Alexander Baskakov, the first chairman of the Union of Photographers of Russia, the two series – from Mir and the ISS – are strikingly different.
The images from the Mir mission are filled with lyricism, tenderness, and a sense of nostalgia for the Earth seen from afar. The photographs from the ISS, by contrast, are more analytical, structured, and concrete – reflecting a matured gaze, the evolution of both the photographer and the human being behind the lens.
Despite these differences, the two bodies of work form a harmonious unity – a visual meditation on humanity’s relationship with the cosmos, and the transformation of perception that comes with crossing the boundary between the earthly and the infinite.
About the Author
Yuri Mikhailovich Baturin
Cosmonaut, Photographer
Cosmonaut, Photographer
Yuri Mikhailovich Baturin (born June 12, 1949, Moscow) is a remarkable figure who unites the roles of scientist, jurist, statesman, writer, and photographic artist. His life and work embody a rare synthesis of scientific reasoning, artistic vision, and an unceasing desire to understand the universe.
A graduate of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology with a specialization in Flight Dynamics and Spacecraft Control, Baturin also pursued studies in law and journalism, earning a Doctor of Law degree. Over the years, he has held several key public positions, including serving as an Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation for National Security Affairs. Later, he became Director of the Institute for the History of Science and Technology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). In 2011, he was elected a corresponding member of the RAS, and in 2014, he was appointed Chairman of the Union of Photographers of Russia.
Baturin’s first spaceflight took place in 1998 aboard the Mir orbital station, followed by his second mission in 2001 to the International Space Station (ISS). In total, he spent nearly twenty days in orbit. For his outstanding contribution to Russian space exploration, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
His photographs and flight diaries transcend the documentary. They form a deeply personal reflection on the encounter with infinity. The images from his first mission aboard Mir are imbued with romanticism and lyricism – a tender gaze upon Earth as a fragile, living home. The photographs from his later expedition to the ISS reveal a more analytical, meditative tone – the perspective of a man who has learned to perceive not only beauty, but also structure, rhythm, and cosmic order.
In his writings, Baturin uses poetic and philosophical imagery to convey the magnitude of his experience. He observed:
“From Earth, the starry sky seems cozy, familiar… In space, you begin to feel the abstract notion of infinity.”
These words encapsulate both the grandeur of the cosmos and the inner transformation that occurs when one looks back at Earth from afar.
Yuri Baturin is a cosmonaut who transformed the personal experience of space travel into an artistic and philosophical project. His work invites viewers to see the cosmos not merely as a field of scientific exploration or technical achievement, but as a mirror – one in which humanity discovers its most intimate and essential truths.
A graduate of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology with a specialization in Flight Dynamics and Spacecraft Control, Baturin also pursued studies in law and journalism, earning a Doctor of Law degree. Over the years, he has held several key public positions, including serving as an Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation for National Security Affairs. Later, he became Director of the Institute for the History of Science and Technology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). In 2011, he was elected a corresponding member of the RAS, and in 2014, he was appointed Chairman of the Union of Photographers of Russia.
Baturin’s first spaceflight took place in 1998 aboard the Mir orbital station, followed by his second mission in 2001 to the International Space Station (ISS). In total, he spent nearly twenty days in orbit. For his outstanding contribution to Russian space exploration, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
His photographs and flight diaries transcend the documentary. They form a deeply personal reflection on the encounter with infinity. The images from his first mission aboard Mir are imbued with romanticism and lyricism – a tender gaze upon Earth as a fragile, living home. The photographs from his later expedition to the ISS reveal a more analytical, meditative tone – the perspective of a man who has learned to perceive not only beauty, but also structure, rhythm, and cosmic order.
In his writings, Baturin uses poetic and philosophical imagery to convey the magnitude of his experience. He observed:
“From Earth, the starry sky seems cozy, familiar… In space, you begin to feel the abstract notion of infinity.”
These words encapsulate both the grandeur of the cosmos and the inner transformation that occurs when one looks back at Earth from afar.
Yuri Baturin is a cosmonaut who transformed the personal experience of space travel into an artistic and philosophical project. His work invites viewers to see the cosmos not merely as a field of scientific exploration or technical achievement, but as a mirror – one in which humanity discovers its most intimate and essential truths.
Earth from Space
Photographs from the personal archive.
Yuri Baturin.
Yuri Baturin.
The Silence of Orbits
Photography has always been an art of holding onto a moment – a way of turning light into memory. Yet when the camera is placed in the hands of a cosmonaut looking down on Earth from above, rather than up from below, the very nature of photography shifts. Each frame becomes not merely an image, but evidence of a radically different scale of perception.
In orbit, the photographer enters a realm of absolute silence – a space where all noise, familiar horizons, and earthly boundaries disappear. What we call a landscape on Earth transforms into abstraction: continents dissolve into patches of color, clouds become moving calligraphy, and cities at night pulse like living circuits in the organism of the planet. Space grants the photographer a vantage point we can never experience while standing within the world we inhabit.
Yuri Baturin’s photographs are not expedition reports, nor are they visual supplements to a spaceflight. They are artistic testaments born at the intersection of science, technology, and personal experience. His images capture not only what is visible, but what has been felt – the perception of someone who has become part of the cosmos, yet remains deeply connected to Earth.
There is a subtle duality within these images. On one side – the lyricism and awe of first encounter: the Earth, fragile and childlike in its vulnerable beauty. On the other – the analytical gaze of a scientist, tracing structure, rhythm, and order within boundless space. This tension is not a contradiction but a dialogue – a fusion of poetry and physics, emotion and inquiry.
That is why Unity with the Cosmos resonates beyond aesthetics. It invites viewers to perceive both photography and space as dimensions of reflection – as a space of philosophical experience. We begin to understand that the cosmos is not merely the domain of technological conquest, but a mirror of the human soul. Each image becomes an opportunity to ask timeless questions: Who are we? Where do we come from? What is our place in this infinite expanse?
Baturin’s flight journals echo the mood of his photographs. He writes of infinity not as a mathematical abstraction, but as something physically felt – of an abyss that resists measurement. His words create a conceptual framework in which the image ceases to be a picture and becomes a visual text – poetic, metaphoric, alive.
This is the true significance of his work: photography becomes a language that bridges science, art, and philosophy. It speaks not of the details of spaceflight, but of the meaning of human presence in the universe. These are not views “from outside,” but rather “from within” – reflections on Earth and on the self.
The exhibition encourages not only contemplation but also a new way of seeing – to view the world from a distance where conflict, borders, and noise dissolve, leaving only the whole.
And that whole is our home – a small, living point of light suspended in the vast darkness.
In orbit, the photographer enters a realm of absolute silence – a space where all noise, familiar horizons, and earthly boundaries disappear. What we call a landscape on Earth transforms into abstraction: continents dissolve into patches of color, clouds become moving calligraphy, and cities at night pulse like living circuits in the organism of the planet. Space grants the photographer a vantage point we can never experience while standing within the world we inhabit.
Yuri Baturin’s photographs are not expedition reports, nor are they visual supplements to a spaceflight. They are artistic testaments born at the intersection of science, technology, and personal experience. His images capture not only what is visible, but what has been felt – the perception of someone who has become part of the cosmos, yet remains deeply connected to Earth.
There is a subtle duality within these images. On one side – the lyricism and awe of first encounter: the Earth, fragile and childlike in its vulnerable beauty. On the other – the analytical gaze of a scientist, tracing structure, rhythm, and order within boundless space. This tension is not a contradiction but a dialogue – a fusion of poetry and physics, emotion and inquiry.
That is why Unity with the Cosmos resonates beyond aesthetics. It invites viewers to perceive both photography and space as dimensions of reflection – as a space of philosophical experience. We begin to understand that the cosmos is not merely the domain of technological conquest, but a mirror of the human soul. Each image becomes an opportunity to ask timeless questions: Who are we? Where do we come from? What is our place in this infinite expanse?
Baturin’s flight journals echo the mood of his photographs. He writes of infinity not as a mathematical abstraction, but as something physically felt – of an abyss that resists measurement. His words create a conceptual framework in which the image ceases to be a picture and becomes a visual text – poetic, metaphoric, alive.
This is the true significance of his work: photography becomes a language that bridges science, art, and philosophy. It speaks not of the details of spaceflight, but of the meaning of human presence in the universe. These are not views “from outside,” but rather “from within” – reflections on Earth and on the self.
The exhibition encourages not only contemplation but also a new way of seeing – to view the world from a distance where conflict, borders, and noise dissolve, leaving only the whole.
And that whole is our home – a small, living point of light suspended in the vast darkness.
Supported by
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Union of Photographers of Russia
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Mikhail Savitsky Art Gallery, Minsk
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