Valle Mortis

New York based artist Brooke Holm will open her latest body of work, Valle Mortis, an audio-visual exploration into the temporal crisis that is the past, present and future as humanity looks to Mars as a speculative counterpart to life on Earth. The exhibition is slated to open April 22nd at Sage Culture Gallery in Los Angeles.

The exhibition will be a sensory depiction of the topographical similarities between Death Valley and Martian terrain predominantly through lenticular prints of the artist’s aerial photographs of Death Valley, paralleled with Mars imagery from the HiRise (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) by NASA/JPL/University of Arizona.

Holm’s techniques allow the viewer to witness the Earth transition to its likeness on Mars, while her video and audio compositions provide an immersive dimension, speaking to the cyclical nature of humankind’s obsession with a future that is ever bound to the past. The result is a celestial body of work suspended in time, neither quite here nor there, at once familiar and unknowable. The work requires a physicality and bodily engagement from the viewer to receive the full effect - images transform only when the viewer orbits around them, while soundscapes and video are not only seen and heard, but felt through an oscillating vibration, synthesized from Martian audio data from the NASA Perseverance rover.

“The concept for this project has been formulated over three years and is inspired by my interests in satellite imagery, temporal mythologies, geological forces that shape landforms and specifically, the visual similarities found amongst terrestrial celestial bodies. I have followed the work of the HiRise since its inception, often astounded by the resemblance found within my own work. Thanks to the technology created by NASA, JPL and the University of Arizona, we can see the surface of a planet that is 95 million miles away in shocking detail. Valle Mortis brings this home, showing us the direct correlation and connection between worlds,” says Brooke Holm.

"We are honored to present Valle Mortis as part of Sage Culture's Arts & Environment program, where we delve into the detailed research that artist Brooke Holm undertakes. Brooke's profound exploration of the natural world and her scientific approach to understanding the connections between Earth and Mars have resulted in a beautiful and intelligent body of work. Her innovative use of lenticular prints presents a unique visual experience, where layers of interlaced images are combined to create an illusion of depth and movement, drawing the viewer into a thought-provoking journey between worlds. At Sage Culture, we pride ourselves on bridging the gap between scientific discovery and artistic expression, engaging audiences with a fusion of knowledge, creativity, and expertise." - Marina Figueiredo - Co-Founder and Director of Sage Culture.