About this project

Hello and thanks for checking out our Kickstarter project!

For the month of October at Echo Arts gallery, the living spectator is invited to accompany the dead on the journey into the afterlife. This all-encompassing installation, featuring the work of Talissa Mehringer and Laekun, is loosely based on the traditions of Samhain, or All Hallow’s Eve,during which the veil between life and death is at its thinnest.

With life-size soul drones, a series of large creature sculptures, vignettes and environments from beyond, soundscapes—as well as photo, video, paintings, and a variety of other two and three dimensional artwork—Echo Arts will present a surreal opportunity to cross over and explore. The characters created will be inspired by mythological creatures and deities from different cultures, giving spectators an understanding of the cross-cultural similarities and timeless reinterpretations of concepts such as death, chaos, balance, and beauty.

Transfigurations seeks to create an experience which transcends the idea of art-on-the-wall shows, creating an environment in which viewers are physically involved and become part of the narrative.

A BRIEF PREVIEW ON THE EXPERIENCE OF THE SHOW:

As we pass through the veil separating life and death, we transition from the body-vessels we occupy as the living, into the purest form of our selves, the soul. Beyond the first layer, we encounter the Goddess of the underworld, veiled + mysterious leading us beyond the second layer deeper into the unknown.

We travel as equals unified by death.

We experience a moment of warm light, thin layers of material through which we must pass. A moment of familiar introspective reflection. As we surface, we encounter a more tangible scene. A wall of masks allows us to see the many roles we played in life in a very personal, eye-opening way. Our positive and negative characteristics personified. The Judge of the underworld stands before us to present us with two choices:To return to life wearing a mask-fragile, emotional, malleable, vulnerable to denial and sadnessbut alive, nonetheless, and therefore capable of experiencing all extremes of sentience.Or the choice of journeying on in our purest, most honest form.At peace with the chaos necessary for balance. Part of it. Content. And capable of finding beauty in the darkness.

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Please be sure to check out our list of rewards for some really awesome donated sculptures and art! Also, stay in the loop on the show's progress on our Project Updates :) Thanks so much every bit helps!