The Mars series captures the stark beauty of the Martian surface, inspired by images from NASA’s Perseverance Rover during the Mars 2020 mission. Created with oil on linen, the collection reimagines traditional landscape painting through the lens of space exploration and technology, bridging Earth and Mars. It explores the evolving relationship between humans and machines, questioning how technology shapes our perception of alien worlds. Each painting reveals Mars’ raw, uninhabited beauty, prompting reflection on the vast distances these images traverse and the solitary existence of robotic explorers.

By employing traditional techniques to reinterpret technologically captured landscapes, Tan Mu dissolves the boundary between past and future, human and machine. Historically, landscape painting required the artist’s physical presence; now, technology enables the creation of exoplanetary vistas from millions of miles away. The Mars series celebrates human ingenuity and our quest for knowledge, delving into the philosophical implications of cosmic exploration. It invites viewers to contemplate our place in the universe and the dynamic interaction between humanity and the technologies that extend our reach into the unknown.

Q: Could you talk about the themes explored in your Mars series paintings?

Tan Mu: The Mars series is a collection of works centered around images of Mars. To Mars to Explore is the first painting in this series, belonging to the same body of work as the three smaller Mars paintings I created in 2024. While these later pieces focus on different aspects of the Martian surface—such as sand, rocks, and slopes—this series as a whole examines how technology expands our visual experience and documents humanity’s exploration of distant planets. Each piece captures the unique terrain and light conditions of Mars through images transmitted by rovers. While To Mars to Explore leans more towards the personification of the rover and the spirit of exploration, the other works in the Mars series place greater emphasis on depicting the Martian landscape. Together, they reflect how technology allows us to see and interpret another world.

Q1: What specific Martian landscapes are captured in the three smaller paintings?

Tan Mu: These three Mars paintings, each measuring 11x14 inches, depict the Martian surface based on images captured and transmitted by NASA's Curiosity rover. These images were taken autonomously by the rover and sent back to Earth, embodying a remarkable technological achievement. As a contemporary painter, I find it profoundly significant to witness and document the landscapes of another planet through technological means. Technology expands our vision—just as I have explored satellite imagery and telescope perspectives in my work, mechanical cameras serve as another extension of our sight. The Curiosity rover’s camera, in this sense, becomes our eyes on Mars. In the past, extraterrestrial landscapes could only be imagined, but now we can see them in reality—landscapes that, intriguingly, resemble Earth’s deserts and arid regions. This visual expansion through technology leads me to reflect on how our perception of the world is fundamentally shaped by technological advancements. Through this series, I hope to document this technological marvel and explore how technology extends our visual reach into the vast unknown.

Q: You mentioned that Mars’ landscape bears similarities to Earth's deserts and arid regions. Could you elaborate on this?

Tan Mu: The Martian surface images remind me of Earth's deserts and arid landscapes, particularly the sandy terrain and eroded slopes of Mongolia. When I visited these places in person, I felt a striking contrast between their natural vastness and the structured environments of cities. At times, they even evoked the imagery of Mars that I had seen. The way Martian rocks, sand, and slopes interact with light and shadow closely resembles the formations found in Earth's desert landscapes. This parallel fascinates me. By painting Martian scenery, I hope to capture this interplay between the distant and the familiar, highlighting the unexpected connections between our world and the landscapes of another planet.

Q: You noted that the size of this series is consistent with some of your previous works. Could you explain your choice of dimensions?

Tan Mu: This series maintains the same dimensions—11x14 inches—as several of my earlier works, including TRINITY TESTING (2020), Off (2019), Vision (2020), and The Splash of a Drop 1 (2022). Whether depicting the Martian surface, a nuclear explosion, a water droplet, or the shutdown of a screen, these works all capture a moment—a burst of energy or a signal frozen in time. This format allows me to maintain continuity across different themes while effectively framing these fleeting moments. The compact size creates an intensity and focus, reinforcing the sense of immediacy within these snapshots of vast phenomena.

Q: Your work explores themes ranging from deep-sea cables to horizons beyond Earth and interstellar exploration. Can you discuss the connections between these subjects?

Tan Mu: From the ocean floor to outer space, from Earth to Mars, my works document our pursuit of the unknown and our visions of the future. Together, they form a narrative about technology, exploration, and human curiosity, illustrating our gradual steps toward a larger cosmos. If we consider Earth as a “motherboard,” then the submarine cables in the Signal series function like the logic pathways connecting megacities. Through these cables, humanity transmits collective knowledge, emotions, and memories—fueling progress and innovation. They are not just conduits of information but the neural networks of civilization. In the Horizon series, satellite imagery extends our view beyond the horizon, reflecting technological advancements that reshape how we perceive the world. As a civilization, we have not yet left our home planet, but space exploration still relies on constellations and celestial bodies for guidance. For instance, when depicting concepts like the Stanford Torus and Dyson Sphere, I include scattered stars in the background, symbolizing our relentless pursuit of breakthroughs and our enduring curiosity about the unknown. Humanity continues to search for terrestrial planets, and among them, Mars remains the most Earth-like candidate. The Mars series, by capturing the planet’s landscapes, envisions a future where we move beyond our home planet and venture into interstellar habitation. Visually, these works document the unique terrain of Mars, serving both as a testament to technological achievement and an homage to the spirit of exploration. They reflect humanity’s unyielding curiosity—a force that drives us to reach beyond the familiar and into the vast expanse of the cosmos.