With increasing discussions about human settlements on the moon and Mars, the idea of living in previously unimaginable locations is becoming more plausible. Inspired by the concept of Mars colonization, Henry Wood has created a series of wooden sculptures, each with a dramatic backstory.
Henry Wood explains to Colossal, “The concept behind this ongoing series is that in the near future, humanity will establish a failing colony on Mars.” Each sculpture portrays a figure with a unique narrative, their struggles, and eventual downfall depicted in wood. One character, Scott, is shown stranded at the South Pole, while Franklin is engulfed by ice from the sea. The series is aptly titled: We went to Mars and it was a disaster.
The inspiration for this collection originated about ten years ago when Wood visited a museum in Cairo and observed the restoration of fragmented artifacts. “I am fascinated by ancient relics and wanted to envision future archaeology on other planets after we have terraformed them,” he says. “I see them as statues or artifacts representing significant figures from antiquity, unearthed and reconstructed to tell the story of what went wrong on the Red Planet.”
The creation of each lanky adventurer takes several weeks and involves detailed planning. Wood emphasizes the importance of sketchbooks in designing his projects and notes that travel plays a crucial role, even though he doesn’t journey as far as his sculptures do. “I am visually captivated by people, especially what their clothing reveals about their beliefs and values,” he says.
Wood collects materials during his travels or when he encounters objects with a story. “I am constantly shipping pieces of wood back to my workshop from wherever I am in the world,” he mentions. Recent trips to the Pacific Northwest and Oaxaca have also allowed him to integrate new tools and techniques. These influences are evident in how he accentuates the wood’s texture and grain, often contrasting sharp angles with organic tears and splits. “I love the juxtaposition of tight acute angles with organic tears, splits, and fibers,” he adds.
To follow Wood’s artistic journey and discover the latest addition to his collection, visit his Instagram page.
