PETRICHOR

2022

PETRICHOR

The Denishopper house in Los Angeles

In the grand endeavor of terraforming Mars, an enigmatic question looms large: shall we carry our shared ancient history along on this odyssey? The rock art, portraying our ancestors' primal pursuits of hunting and farming, as well as the masterpieces from the Renaissance, photographs, and abstract sculptures—shall they find their way to the crimson landscapes of the Red Planet? Or perhaps, we shall endeavor to replicate them there, summoning the finest reproduction artists to recreate our historical continuum, adorning the museums of Mars with echoes of epochs past. Alternatively, might we summon the contemporary artists to envision a novel culture, a reimagined genesis that births a fresh societal vision?

As we embark on the conceptual exploration of terraformation, akin to sculptors molding a new planet, we find ourselves ensconced in the philosophical tapestry of human history. . In the words of the great science fiction writer, Philip K. Dick, "Perhaps what we need is a new culture, one that is forged in the crucible of Mars and reflects the harsh realities of life on this barren planet."

The myth of Prometheus, an allegory resonant with our expedition, elucidates our predicament. In daring to bestow the divine flame upon humanity, Prometheus ignited the flame of progress and civilization, yet at the cost of divine retribution. His ordeal, tethered to the rock while the eagle feasted on his liver, mirrors the interplay between creating anew and bearing the consequences of our deeds.

In similar vein, the sacred flame of our cultural heritage shall illuminate the path to the emergence of a novel society on Mars. Yet, in our artistic pursuits and cultural transplantation, we must remain conscious of the indelible veracity of reality, for as Philip K. Dick aptly mused, reality does not acquiesce when we choose to disbelieve.

The edifice of our shared cultural heritage shall serve as the bedrock on which to erect a nascent society on the Martian terrain. However, we must not shy away from embracing the unknown, for it is in these uncharted territories that we shall forge a fresh cultural ethos, one that embodies the quintessence of life in this remote celestial realm. As Aristotle once opined, art's purpose lies not solely in mirroring outward appearances but in capturing the profound essence that lies within.

Thus, as voyagers charting our course toward this extraordinary expedition, we must heed the wisdom of Prometheus. Our ingenuity and vision shall be the furnace where a novel world is forged, one that both honors our ancestral legacy and embraces the audacious vistas of the future.

‘Petrichor’ Multimedia installation at the Denishopper house in Los Angeles