Arran's character urges us to question ourselves as a species, as we ponder our escape beyond the stars.
A central nomadic character in an epic narrative which began life in the mid-late 90's, Arran's Astronauts are known across the world. Acting as an alter ego, this character leads us on a pilgrimage, a journey through inner and outer space. Taking inspiration from classics such as Dante's Inferno, and Gulliver's Travels, Arran fuses more recent influences such as Kubrick, Bowie, and modern-day Manga to bring an apocalyptic edge to his work.
Visually narrated using sculpture, photographic, and painted form amongst various media, Arran explores themes of escapism. This is best encapsulated in his 23 59 series originating in 2018, in which the astronaut appears in various settings on Earth, including at an apocalyptic safari, appearing ominously close to midnight. Arran's character urges us to question ourselves as a species, as we ponder our escape beyond the stars. Through his work, he encourages us to consider the possibility that our Spaceman friend has possibly escaped, or rather returned to Planet Earth, the only oasis we know of across the Universe.