Caught in Flight: See Cirque du Soleil Founder Guy Lalibert? Photographs From Outer Space (ARTINFO)

Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Lalibert? is certainly used to flights of fancy, but this one was more unusual than most: a "poetic social mission" in space, on board the International Space Station. He documented the experience in a series of extraordinary photographs, which are gathered in "GAIA," just published by Assouline.

The trip into space was a rare ? and expensive ? opportunity. Thewinding down of the American space program has made space tourism even more difficult than it was before, according to Lalibert?, who paid $35 million for the privilege of hitching a ride on a Russian space shuttle. Of his 11 days in space, nine were spent on the International Space Station, which orbited around the earth 176 times during his stay. Did he harbor any trepidation before his adventure? No. "I have never nurtured fear," he said. His boldness was rewarded with extraordinary vistas, as well as some unexpected perks. "The food was great," said Lalibert?, with the cuisine inspired by many nations' culinary traditions. "I was surprised to see how good the food was and how varied it was."

But it was those vistas, of course, that will linger. The book's stunning photographs reveal bodies of water nestled between mountains, elegantly rippled coastlines, snaking rivers, alien patterns in cracked dry earth, and vast spherical spacescapes. They are accompanied by quotations from all over the world. "Part of the concept of the book tried to create not only images to show the beauty of the planet but texts by people greater than I am" to encourage reflection, Lalibert? said.

Not a professional photographer, Lalibert? found that he was able to frame his shots gracefully, perhaps because of his work at Cirque du Soleil. He described an experience of seeing clouds circling the earth morph into familiar forms, tumbling through the thin air at great height: "suddenly you surprise yourself looking and identify an animal shape or a character in motion."

Proceeds from the book's sales will go to Lalibert?'s One Drop Foundation,which he established in 2007 to address shortages of potable water around the world through technology and microcredit, as well as educational programs and other outreach.

To see photographs from "GAIA," click the slide show at left. The book is available from Assouline.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/arts/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/artinfo/20110728/en_artinfo/caught_in_flight_see_cirque_du_soleil_founder_guy_laliberts_photographs_from_outer_space

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