As we head into an unknown environment, Shaw maintains a critical eye on the future. Her fascination with the human need to explore and conquer other planets plays on her mind. The work continually evolves as news of these new human explorations come to light. In the work ‘Spaceship Earth’ a ghostly outline of a planet presents itself behind the mountainous terrain, which hints at the subject matter for this show. Her own shift from earthly terrain to the major surface areas of Mars, reflects her inquisitiveness and ability to seek out the unknown. It has been speculated for some

time that Earth and Mars were once very similar planets as they formed in our galaxy. About 3 billion years ago, Mars underwent what has been described as the ‘great desiccation event’. Whereas Earth, underwent a ‘great oxygenation event’ which resulted in our planet developing a breathable atmosphere. This event raises the question: Could

Mars be another earth? 

Catalogue essay Celeste Hawkins, writer, 2014