Celestial Predation: The Deep Space Fauna Propaganda Series
Digital Illustration, Procreate & Photoshop, 2026
The Genesis of a Conspiracy
The “Deep Space Fauna” series was born from an extensive exploration of the psychology behind conspiracy theories. After analyzing “classic” tropes, such as the Flat Earth, the faked moon landing, and the hidden rule of reptilian elites, I sought to create a theory that was equally extreme and “unbelievable” to the general public. The resulting concept posits a terrifying biological reality: that stars and planets are not celestial bodies of rock and gas, but rather the bioluminescent lures of titanic, unseen predators lurking in the cosmic vacuum.
Propagandistic Visual Language
The visual style was a deliberate choice to mimic the “low-budget” aesthetic often found in fringe conspiracy communities. I utilized blocky, propagandistic typography with textured galaxy patterns rather than simple white text to enhance the cosmic theme.
- The Propaganda Tension: There is a stark contrast between the convincing, loud slogans like “WE ARE NOT THE DOMINANT SPECIES” and the unsettling, sketchy imagery beneath them.
- Sketchy Abstraction: The fish are rendered in a rough, sketchy style to prevent them from looking like specific biological animals. Instead, they appear as conceptual forces of nature or omnipresent threats that are barely perceivable.
- Visual Traps: The compositions rely on empty dark backgrounds to force all attention onto the glowing “lure”—whether it be the Earth or Jupiter—drawing the viewer’s eye directly into the predator’s waiting mouth.
Technical Evolution
A significant turning point in the process was the transition from a Wacom tablet in Photoshop to ProCreate on the iPad. This shift allowed for a much “smoother” drawing experience, enabling me to capture the sketchy yet fluid lines that define the predators. While each poster explores a different perspective—from the direct threat of Poster 1 to the eerie, planet-sized eyes of Poster 3—they collectively function as a warning that there is “nowhere for us to go”.
Conceptual Framework: Space as an Infinite Ocean
The theory is grounded in the biological principle that animals with more physical space can grow to exponentially larger sizes. Just as the Greenland shark or the giant squid reach massive proportions in the depths of the Earth’s oceans, the vastness of space allows for “Deep Space Fauna” of truly gargantuan scale. This idea was partially inspired by the “space whales” of the video game No Man’s Sky and a 2024 experiment where China successfully kept zebrafish alive in zero-gravity for 20 days, proving that aquatic life can indeed survive and navigate the vacuum.
Hierarchy Reversal and the “Earth as Bait”
The core of the series lies in a visceral reversal of power. For centuries, humanity has viewed itself as the dominant species on a planet it claims to own. These posters strip away that delusion by placing the Earth at the tip of an anglerfish’s lure. By rendering our entire world as mere bait, the work suggests that our frame of reference is fundamentally flawed: we are not the masters of the universe, but the prey within a cosmic trap.
