Between Earth and the Unknown

For as long as humans have existed, we have looked to the sky—once to interpret the stars, understand the changing seasons, or question our place in the universe. Today, we search for new horizons, answers to urgent questions, and potential refuges for the future.

Mars—the Red Planet—embodies this longing for the unknown like no other celestial body. It represents the dream of surpassing our limits, the hope for a second home, and at the same time, the realization that this distant world was never meant for us. Air and water, the fundamental elements of life, are absent. Yet progress continues to drive us forward, pushing us toward places where we do not belong.

This image reflects that inner conflict. The deep blue symbolizes the invisible—the things we take for granted on Earth but seek in vain elsewhere. The blurred, almost ethereal shape in the center acts as a boundary between reality and transcendence, between the terrestrial and the unknown—a gateway to another world.

Bigger, faster, further, more spectacular—brighter, louder. These qualities have long been symbols of ambition and progress. But today, I associate them more with neglect, exhaustion, and emotional detachment.

I believe we must relearn how to appreciate the simple, unassuming aspects of nature. They teach us respect—for its harmony, its balance, and the delicate interplay of countless elements.

Even the quiet, unspectacular moments can be deeply moving, instill humility, and carry us through everyday life.

As our gaze remains fixed on the sky, our expectations have shifted. Once, we sought guidance and meaning; today, we search for new places to inhabit. Yet the further we look into the future, the more we drift from our origins. Perhaps the true answer is not in the distance but in stillness—in recognizing the beauty that surrounds us. Not bigger, faster, or louder, but quiet, enduring, and profoundly deep.