The Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta is constructing a six-storey tower inside its largest exhibition hall for an $18 million opening show titled "Task Eternal," set for September 2026. The exhibition explores humanity's fascination with stars, flight, and space, featuring 290 loans from international institutions including the British Museum and NASA, as well as Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg's spacesuit on public display for the first time. Designed by Beijing-based firm OPEN architecture, the show includes a steel tower inspired by Ted Chiang's novella "Tower of Babylon," with installations by Thai artist Torlarp Larpjaroensook and US artist James Turrell.
The show marks a significant shift in the museum's curatorial approach toward diversity and inclusion, incorporating voices from astronauts, artists, engineers, First Nations elders, and speculative writers. It is the most expensive of five opening exhibitions at the new $915 million Powerhouse headquarters, funded by Treasury and corporate sponsors. The announcement coincides with staff cuts at the Art Gallery of NSW, drawing criticism from the Public Service Association about funding priorities.