ASTROBIOLOGY I am researching terrestrial fossils, NASA’s findings on Mars, and theories surround astrobiology. This new body of work surrounds the search for traces of life. I am making skeletal fossil plates and growth plates that signify evidence of life. I cast fossil plates and hybrid skeletons, and grow microorganisms as an art material.
My most recent body of work can be seen below. I invent new life forms based on the conditions of various habitable planets. I make terrariums depicting scenes from events I think and hope will happen in the near and far future. For example, finding remains on Mars, finding sea life on Europa, harvesting minerals and resources from asteroids and other planets, building research bases, and traveling to Earth-like planets to observe newly discovered organisms.
Astrobiology is a combination of what biologists know about life and what could possibly exist outside of Earth. There are several theories suggesting the existence of life throughout the universe as well as theories to explain why we have not found anything. To truly understand our own existence, we need to answer these questions: Is there intelligent life outside Earth? Can life occur in different ways or is all life carbon based? Is there an evolutionary convergence or are Earth’s organisms rare?
