“Art Is Not What You See, But What You Make Others See.”

Edgar Degas

SPACE

Welcome to Crispin Sturrock’s world, where art is about digging deep, letting go, and finding something unexpected in the process. Sturrock’s paintings aren’t here to please—they’re here to surprise you, maybe even haunt you a little, in the way good art always does. His work is a fearless plunge into colour, texture, and form, pushing the limits of what a canvas can hold. These aren’t polite little pieces for quiet rooms. They’re big, bold, and unapologetic, sometimes even a little messy, like life itself.

Sturrock has this way of getting under the skin of his subjects, diving into ideas that most people sidestep: identity, belonging, power, contradiction. His paintings feel like they’re in motion, as if they’re shifting and changing each time you look at them. This isn’t the kind of art you just “get” in one glance; it’s art that invites you to keep looking, to keep asking questions. It’s clear that Sturrock doesn’t paint for praise or recognition; he paints because he has to, because it’s his way of understanding the world.

But here’s the thing: Sturrock’s work isn’t for just anyone. He’s not here to sell you a piece of decor; he’s here to share a part of himself, with those who truly get it. For him, connecting with someone through art is personal, almost sacred. If you feel that pull, that curiosity, then maybe there’s something here for you. But be prepared—this isn’t passive viewing. It’s an encounter, a conversation. These paintings are looking back at you, asking who you are just as much as you’re wondering what they’re about.

So, take your time. Let the colours, the strokes, the energy of Sturrock’s work sink in. It’s art that doesn’t settle, art that keeps pushing boundaries and asking you to do the same. If that resonates, you’ll know what to do.

JS/AI

#023 Savage Garden / Consciousness 2020

Acrylic and oilstick on canvas

180 x 280 cm / 71 x 110 inches

In Crispin Sturrock's artwork, the cosmos becomes a tribute to the visionaries and pioneers who dedicated their lives to making space travel possible, not just as engineers or scientists but as dreamers of a boundless future. From the first stirrings of rocket science, dreamers like Konstantin Tsiolkovsky in Russia imagined life among the stars, creating formulas that would later guide rockets. Robert Goddard in America designed and launched the first liquid-fueled rockets, laying a foundation for modern spaceflight, while Hermann Oberth pushed rocketry and space travel theories forward in Europe.

This artwork is a gesture of gratitude to all those who, known and unknown, made the leap into space possible. Some of their names are etched in history—Wernher von Braun, the mind behind Apollo’s rocket power, Sergei Korolev, the Soviet engineer who launched humanity’s first satellite and put the first human, Yuri Gagarin, into orbit, and Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson of NASA, who broke through barriers to calculate trajectories with incredible precision.

Then came the brave astronauts, the faces of humanity’s yearning: John Glenn, Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon. Yet beyond the famed, it’s a testament to countless others—the mathematicians, engineers, programmers, and technicians who calculated, built, tested, and believed.

As Sturrock imagines it, generations from now, when we reach distant planets, we will not only owe thanks to these pioneers, but we will embody their spirit of exploration. Even if we achieve the unimaginable—bending time and crossing galaxies—it will be these early minds and the legacies they created that made it all possible. Perhaps, future generations will look back, thankful, realising that while Earth was our cradle, the universe was always our destiny.

Mars & Beyond

The Morality of Leaving Earth & Multi-planetary

Humanity's Great Leap Into Space

Humanity stands at a monumental crossroads, one that could define the future of our species for millennia. The prospect of colonizing Mars, as detailed by the plans of SpaceX and other spacefaring entities, is no longer just the realm of science fiction. Companies like SpaceX, under the leadership of Elon Musk, are on the brink of turning this vision into reality, with missions planned within this decade. The idea of becoming a multi-planetary species, a concept once only dreamed of, is now a tangible goal, with the first human missions to Mars potentially launching as early as the late 2020s​ (SpaceX).

The implications of this are profound. Colonising Mars could mark the beginning of humanity’s journey as a spacefaring civilisation, but it also raises significant ethical and moral questions. What does it mean for humanity to leave Earth, possibly forever? What are the consequences of raising generations who may never experience the beauty of Earth—the fresh air, the oceans, the forests?

The Human Desire for Exploration

For 70,000 years, Homo sapiens have been driven by an insatiable curiosity, a desire to explore what lies beyond the known. This relentless pursuit has taken us across continents, over mountains, and into the depths of the oceans. Now, as our technology advances, the ultimate frontier lies not across the seas, but in the vastness of space. The first human to step onto Mars will carry with them the collective ambition of our entire species.

Yet, this leap is different. Leaving Earth is not just another exploration; it is a departure from the very cradle of humanity. The challenges of life on Mars are immense. The planet’s harsh environment—its thin atmosphere, extreme cold, and radiation—will make survival a daily struggle. For the first time in our history, humans will be faced with the reality of living on a world that is entirely alien​ (SpaceX)​ (Science Center).

The Emotional and Ethical Dilemma

The emotional weight of this endeavour cannot be overstated. The exhilaration of standing on Mars, of being part of history, will soon give way to the realisation of what has been left behind. Mars, with all its potential, is not Earth. The loss of direct connection to our home planet—where we evolved, where our civilisations were born—poses a profound psychological and emotional challenge. Future generations born on Mars may never know what it is to stand by the ocean or breathe in the air after a rainstorm.

Crispin Sturrock's artwork, "Savage Garden," captures this complex emotional landscape. The painting, which delves into the raw beauty and brutality of nature, can be reinterpreted in this new context. "Savage Garden" might now represent the unforgiving environment of Mars—a place of stark beauty but also great danger. It forces us to ask: What price are we willing to pay for survival? Can the sterile beauty of another world ever replace the vibrant life of Earth?

The Scale of the Universe

Moreover, the scale of the task ahead is almost incomprehensible. Our Milky Way galaxy alone contains over 400 billion stars, and traveling from one end to the other at the speed of light would take 200,000 years. If we consider that light from our Sun takes about eight and a half minutes to reach Earth—a distance of approximately 150 million kilometres—the distances involved in interstellar travel are staggering. And yet, the Milky Way is just one of an estimated two trillion galaxies in the observable universe​ (SpaceX).

This cosmic scale puts our ambitions into perspective. Colonising Mars, our first step, is merely the first in a journey that could eventually take us to the stars, but it is also a reminder of how small we are in the grand scheme of things. This humbling reality should inspire both awe and caution as we consider our inevitable future.

Conclusion: The Moral Imperative

The decision to colonise Mars, to leave Earth behind, is not one to be taken lightly. It is a moral and existential dilemma that will define the future of humanity. Will we become the Alien, the invading species that flourishes across the cosmos, or will we lose something fundamental about what it means to be human?

As we stand on the brink of this new era, it is crucial that we reflect on the ethical implications of our actions. Crispin Sturrock's "Savage Garden" serves as a powerful metaphor for this moment in history, urging us to consider the balance between progress and preservation, between the known and the unknown. The beauty of Earth is unique, and while Mars may offer a new beginning, it is essential that we do not forget where we came from. Our journey into space should not just be about survival; it should be about maintaining our humanity, our connection to our home planet, even as we reach for new stars with no hope to ever return to Earth, to our home.