Unearthing Psyche
Nidhi Shah
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Genre/Medium: Colored Pencil on Wood
About the work:
Unearthing Psyche reimagines the Psyche mission not as a journey through space, but as an excavation into Earth itself. Rather than traveling outward, the spacecraft digs through layers of our planet to reach its core. The Psyche 16 asteroid is a metal world much like our planet’s core, and is likely to uncover truths about our own planet and its formation. The contrast between the asteroid’s textured, cratered surface and the fluid motion of the spacecraft’s descent reinforces the connection between space and Earth’s interior. The use of colored pencil on wood adds an organic texture, enhancing the sense of discovery. By challenging the perception of space exploration as purely outward-bound, this piece invites viewers to reconsider the ways we seek knowledge—not only by looking beyond, but also by delving inward. Unearthing Psyche suggests that space exploration is as much about understanding ourselves as it is about reaching the stars.
Download Image (2 MB)
