Us & Them - The Re-Rebirth of the Demon

The theme for 'Us & Them' has bugged me for quite a while.
Many years of my adult life I had the feeling that the people of the world started to mature. That they would open up - and start to accept eachother more. That gender, race and nationality mattered less in the relationships between people. National borders became more open and the world in many parts started to grow closer.
But in the past years I started to realize that most of this appears to be wishful thinking. Proof for this, if I needed any, were the elections to the European Parliament. Nationalist parties drew alot of votes in their repective countries. And thus formed the paradox, that in a parliament of a multilateral union the voice of seperatism grew stronger.
Europe is not the only continent, where nationalist movements gathered strength. In fact, it seems that the segregation of the world into smaller and smaller parts is on the rise. And conflicts along national, cultural, religious or even clan border lines increase.

For quite some time I wanted to create an installation around that theme. I experimented on 2D-pictures, but I had this distinctive image in my head.
The invitation by SperiMenta and Tanalois Art to show on Solaris Island came at the perfect time.The venue provided me with plenty of space and prims to develop 'Us&Them - The Re-Rebirth of the Demon'.
The installation is essentially a two-way-mirror, which is not apparent at the first glance. Only the explorative nature will be able to see the whole picture.
The installation will be on Solaris Island until the end of July 2014, in case you would like to take a look.
This is the text that accompanys the installation. It is also in the notecard you will find on the landingpoint:

"We lock ourselves into golden cages. Our discussions run in circles. We forget that we are connected. What comes from the outside is evil, they tell us. It wants to take from us, what we paid for with our own blood, sweat and tears.
We have heard those voices before. The false sirens had sung and we had followed. And it gained us nothing. But suffering, death and destruction.
Yet we seem to be ready to listen to them again. Aware that they don’t offer solutions. But their false promises glide down our throats like sweet honey.
It’s not them who will pull the trigger. They might say, thereafter, that they never wanted it to happen that way. But by then, no one will be there to hear.

The Project “Us&Them“, by Moeuhane Sandalwood, is not a work of fiction. It is an image of our time. Taken one of these days in one of those nations. And peculiarly enough: Whoever visits the exhibit, will find him or herself already part of it. Only thing to decide is: Which one in this image is you?"

The opening at Solaris Island on July 2, 2014 was fantastic (Thank you Duna Gant for taking pictures!). Many friends came over - and also many people I hadn't met before. And I think I struck a chord in many of them.

My sincere Thanks go out to Sarabell, Nino Vichan and Alo Congrejo for giving me this opportunity and space. I would also like to express special gratitude to Gem Preiz. He showed me how to perfect the resolution for the 'imaginative curtain' in the center of the piece. Looks magnificent thanks to you, Gem!
More Pictures of the show are on Flickr and Facebook.

"The Machine" @ LEA6 with Lilia Artis

Lilia Artis and I were quite surprised back in spring when Jayjay Zinfanwe and Bryn Oh announced that we would be among the artists chosen to exhibit in the 2013 round of the LEA Full Sim Art Series. And here it is: 'The Machine' @ LEA6 - a collaborative work by Lilia Artis and Moeuhane Sandalwood:

“We have solved all our problems. Thanks to our ingenuity.
    We have cured all illnesses. Thanks to our technical savvy.
    We have cheated death. Thanks to our code.
    We invented the machine.
    The only thing left to do:
    Keep the machine running that keeps us running.”

We had a lot of time to develop our project - but due to real life only a very short to actually build it in the end. And because we didn't have a sim available to build it, we had to do it in parts - level by level. For that it appears to have turned out quite well - and was well recieved among visitors and bloggers.
Time flies, and in just one week the whole thing will disappear again. So if you haven't seen it yet - here is the Slurl!
We do not have much time to document the piece anymore either. Fortunately Lilia's good friend and famed SL-artist Haveit Neox stepped up and made this wonderful machinima-teaser about the Show. I also took a few pictures for my Flickr-page.

 History told backwards

The story of 'The Machine' is quite complex. Our intent was to present the history of a society in a far away future. We decided to tell the story of that society backwards. Which means the visitor takes up the role of an archaeologist or ethnologist. On his or her journey down through the 4 levels he or she discovers more and more of the history of the mysterious society.
Our installation is basically a game of search and discovery. Like if you were an archaeologist discovering the city of Troy. The visitor is basically part of one big historic novel.
The artistic twist in our 'Troy' is the paradox that the 'futuristic' people don't care at all about their past, yet integrated their whole history fully into their 'machine'.
We worked with colors and lights to underline that paradox.

We painted the present and the early past of that society in bright colors. It could depict their view of this fantastic future - or maybe be a lure for the people to give up their lives, bodies and free will to technology.
In the lower levels - the darkness and shadows underline the problematic nature of their 'progress'.
We gave the world this monumental feeling. Every level is grand and vast. It should represent the complexity of this society, the enormous amount of achievement through technology - and also, subsequently the enormous amount of (sociological) failure.
Because in the end the visitor will discover that the 'perfection' of that people was achieved at a very high price. They ruined the environment - and took the free will of the people. Their 'perfect' society - that is depicted on the top level in such delicate and ethereal colors - in fact bases on a fascist regime.

What exactly is 'perfection'?

Here's the original text from our notecard:  The creatures have created a perfectly functioning world. They live in the ever present. As a sound community. With joined minds and spirits. Interconnected. Completely. They run the machine – and are run by the machine. They are the machine. The peak of innovation. The end of evolution. Their creation.
They are a society without memory. Their history a mere shadow. Because there is no need to remember. Why remember what is of no value. They are perfect.
   What if a society sets progress through technology as their top priority? Perfection above everything else?
   In 'The Machine' by Lilia Artis and Moeuhane Sandalwood visitors are greeted by a possible result of that strife for perfection. An ethereal world that comes alive through the extensive power of the joined minds of its inhabitants.
   The visitors are subsequently invited to pull out their inner archeologist and ethnologist. And go on an exploratory trip down through several sublevels of history. To unearth the secret behind that seemingly perfect world.

   Because: What we see on the top floor is just a blink of an eye. It is a depiction of the everyday life of a people in a distant future.
   Even though that population on the top level does not seem to care about their past, it still remains integrated into their 'machine' – hidden in the lower levels. The encumbrance of the past might one day reappear to haunt them. It might just become a burden on their next generation – once it breaks through the floors of time.
   How to visit the installation: On every 'generation’s' level there is a spot where a former generation found its way to the new level. Sometimes it’s a bit hidden, because nobody used it anymore for decades or even centuries. Look for stairs, elevators, holes in the ground, etc.

Blogger's oppinions on 'The Machine'

What others have written about it:
Quan Lavender: Sneak Preview: The Machine
Ziki Questi: The Machine
Inara Pey: Inside the Machine
Asmita Duranjaya: A Dystopia: Lilia Artis' and Moe Sandalwood's LEA Installation 'The Machine'
UWAinSL: THE MACHINE
BukTomBlog: The Machine
Echt Virtuell: LEA Full Sim Art Series für November
Linden Endowment for the Arts: LEA Full Sim Art Series (Nov)

Burn2'11 opens on Saturday, October 1

It was just a few weeks ago that I packed my trailer and drove up the dusty road to the playa. Not much more than a few clouds of sand and some dried out plants waited there for me. I drove past the lonely ranger station and to the far end of the desert. At a suitable corner I layed down my first prim and claimed our plot for this year's "Burn".

Gradually prim by prim was hauled in over the coming days by many gifted residents. And the plots around me exploded in colors and movement. And also our plot slowly came to live.

Just a few hours before the opening of "Burn2'11", the Second Life version of the Burning Man Festival, the plot looks as finished as it could ever look after the short weeks of preparation. And I am excited to present it to you.

Together with my friends from the Aeonia Artists Group we created an installation called "In-Decisions" - in accordance to this year's Burn theme "Rites of Passage". Our approach is to present the path of live with its many waypoints and intersections. The viewer will have to take decisions at every step of the way - decisions that will affect their course of life.

The installation is dark - and colorful, earnest - and funny, sad - and happy. Just as life might be.
We are very excited about it! And I hope, you will like it too :)

So come visit us between October 1 and 9! See you at the playa and burn on!
Aeonia-Plot "In-Decisions" at Burn2'11

What I like about Mainland

I might never want to live there, because of lag, add-farm, ban-lines and neighbor issues. But there is something about Mainland in SL that makes it worth spending time on. It's the utter chaos that one runs accross every step of the way. The ever unfinished nature of it.
Time (and many times greed) has segmented the regions on the main continents into an infinite number of tiny lots. And thousands of those tiny lots have inhabitants trying to make the best of the little piece of land and the small numbers of prims they own. Houses neighbor gardens, neighbor clubs and shops in the utmost disorderly fashion. Nobody even tries to live according to a set theme. A castle is set between a 20th-century home, a cozy cave and a startrek-style future-home. And about everything inbetween. There is everything from the sl-firsthomes to costly prefabs, first tries at building ones own home to the precious success of coming build-masters.
There's clutter and garbage hanging in midair. Empty platforms and half-built skyboxes. Waterfalls at 100 meters coming out of nowhere whichs waters never touch ground. Cars, animals and other accessories floating high above ground seemingly trown up there by an invisible tornado. Much like a childs room just before mom takes out that big broom.
All it takes to explore this mess is time and a strong set of nerves, that can handle flying around all those ugly banlines and nasty security orbs. And every now and then one stumbles upon a little treasure, well hidden within all this mess. An outburst of creativity which might go unnoticed, if not found by chance.

Fun with the Funky Feats

There is this thing about dancing in Second Life. My mind first couldn't really make anything out of it. It is one thing, running around in the Metaverse, flying, teleporting, even driving that fantastic bike. But having your Avatar moved around by some script? Sometimes even not your own script? At first that felt, as if someone had strings attached to my rl-limbs. Not an uplifting feeling.

Weird thing is, though, that I grew more and more fond of dancing in SL - for one thing probably, because it is one of the best ways to meet other people. What most residents seem to do, if they are not going about their business or their explorations (or...hm...the other thing...), is dancing at some club - so that's where they are at and where they are most relaxed to talk to.

And then came that night at Spiral Parx' (one of my best friends) club a few months ago. I saw those crazy people having lots of fun - line-dancing, for god's sake! But it was no river-dance-style bore. They had a real shakin' goin' on!

Being this free spirited i-have-my-own-animations-not-touching-that-dance-ball kind of dancer, I was a bit reluctant to accept Hevy Malibu's invitation to join them at first. But sure enough, curious me did anyway. Seconds later, having recieved a hat and a cane matching the color of my clothing, i sat on my own little white triangle in the lineup, handing my fate to Hevy and the other 'trainers'. And before the night was over, I was one of them - a member of Funky Feats - the craziest, funnest and most lovable dance-group/family in SL.

The Funky Feats are a loose group of people that meet for dancing - and having tons of fun doing it. The 'trainers' are constantly adding new dances to the routine, diverse and always matching the music. They talk to club-owners who seem to be really happy with the Funkys showing up, because they almost always draw a crowd of people with them. Which means the group is invited to a lot of beautiful venues in the grid. It's so much of a win-win-thing, because the Funkys can do what they love best, helping club-owners to get the word about their venues out there.

The uplifting spirit of the Funkys is always very welcome. Especially in moments like last night when the group honored an SL-resident that passed away, helping her friends cope by making them dance their sorrow away. The picture is from our white christmas 'Tribute to Brandi Basset Dance' at Paradise Country and Classic Rock Music Club.

If you have a special event at your venue, look up the Funky Feats in group-search and IM one of the 'trainers'. I am looking forward at spending a fun evening of fun dancing and socializing in your club!

The Link to Paradise Country and Classic Rock Music Club:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Five%20Stars/66/178/25

Hydrogen City

The name "Hydrogen City" caught my eye right away, when I checked some guy's picks. It had the sound of dark, neko, sleazy and yet metallically futuristic to it. It just sounded like a perfect picture-opportunity. The TP landed me in empty waterland. So much for hydrogen, I thought. Then I saw it glowing city-floor high above me in the air. Too bad I was in the middle of a No Fly Zone! Doesn't really stop a nosey SL-explorer, does it? Using some serious camera-muscle I stood in this huge city that was everything I expected and more (see flickr-stream). It's a mixture of dark urban neko, spaceship and downtown china. I'm not sure, though, they really like visitors their (completely empty) city. I had just completed my photo-session when falling through a hole in the ground, finding myself back in the waterland all over again. Still, checking the city out is worth the hassle. So try it yourself.

By the way...just a few feet away from the landing zone is a cylindric picture-screen showing a winter forrest. Try getting in there. You will find this amazing little winter wonderland. Although they must have some really defiant elfs living there. There's a bunch of stores - so you might think they would welcome some customers. Well, I found myself ejected from that little island before I could say hello. But hey, maybe they like your face better than mine...

This Link brings you into the city...evading the water (verified!): http://slurl.com/secondlife/Prosperine/106/154/227

Finally: Mont St. Michel!

Do you have this place in SL you heard so much about, really wanted to visited, but were too busy to tp there? Mont St. Michel was one of those to me, until today. I ran across a pick in someone's profile and knew, my visit there was long overdue. I knew from so many pictures that it was recreated down to many details. Yet, I would never have imagined to what extent! To stroll through those narrow alleys and visit this tiny little café was a thrill. This sim would really be too perfect, if not for this unexpected twist. This french city has been taken by the japanese! Don't believe it? Go experience it yourself.

Blog: http://le-mont-saint-michel.blogspot.com/

Slurl:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Mont%20Saint%20Michel/72/144/95

An Afternoon At Aeonia Arts

I am not always amused by group-invites from strangers. But today was different. On login I had an invite waiting for me from one Ally Aeon - a woman I was sure I had never heard of. Turns out later that I had visited one of her galleries in the past. Even before meeting up with her, though, I blindly entered the group. And by now I'm glad I did. Right after that I visited her sim called Aeonia Arts (link below). And I was blown away! It might look like just another Nature Park in SL for the first second. When you start exploring it, though, you will find a world of little themed areas which will each trigger a special set of feelings. The blend of sights and sounds are so natural and yet precisely crafted. But there is more to this lady than just being an awesome grid-artist. She also makes room for others to bloom and blossom, sharing the sim with them to display their work.

Visit Aeonia Arts: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Aeonia/135/179/25

Check out those profiles

One of the greatest things on Second Life are profiles. I like people who have the decency of telling me a bit about themselves - which makes it easier to connect even before you speak to them. It's also a great way to find new and interesting places screening their picks. Through one of those screenings I discovered the works of Hylee Bekkers. I visited her park today, which caught my eye for the great love to detail she invested. But what impressed me most, was her time-machine. Watch out, that you don't get transferred to the wrong century. But you will have to hurry. She says, she has the tendency to tear down whatever she builds after a short while - to free up prims for new projects.

Oh, if you wonder who the wobble in the picture is: I was wearing my undercover-avatar.

Visit Hylee's Ptarmigan Park at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Orbitalis/85/118/35 .

A Night At Zombie City

[xx:01] Zombie bites Moeuhane Sandalwood

[xx:04] Zombie bites Moeuhane Sandalwood

I didn't really know that side of me...but as it turns out I would probably make a decent war photographer. Usually I love to spend my time in quiet places - taking a lot of time in finding the right spot, angle and lighting for that awesome shot. Yet, there something in running from evil zombies and angry guard dogs while capturing those heros trying to clean the streets of these deadly creatures. You will - for sure - find some of these bloody pictures at my gallery sometime soon.

Zombie-infested Leros City can be found at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Leros/112/227/47

It's a start!

I have thought about entering the blog-world for a long time. There's so much blurp out there and I was't sure, I was going to add my own to it. But as my photography-venture is getting broader and I get to meet so many wonderful creators, artists and builders out there - I decided to tell you a little about them and their creations. It's my little way of getting the news out there, about the dedication of these great people for making Second Life such a wonderful place. And then again, I might not be able to stop myself from rambling about some personal stuff. Bare with me, please. We'll just have to see, how and where it all goes. So for now: Take care and have fun exploring all those magnificent places in SL