A.K.A.:"Your Phantom Captain's Seven Level Quest For Truth & Balance Through Understanding of Phi"
Reflecting on the Evolution of Installation Art within a Larger Body of Work (2024)
In 2010, "Your Phantom Captain's Seven Level Quest for Truth & Balance Through Understanding of Phi" was a pivotal installation marking Angel Axioma’s exploration of consciousness, truth, and balance through the material world. This work delves into the mysterious interplay between the mind and body, a topic that remains elusive even to modern science. Inspired by Buckminster Fuller’s metaphor of the "Phantom Captain" controlling the physical body and the ancient Eastern philosophy of chakras, the installation juxtaposes modern existential questions with age-old spiritual inquiries.
Medium: Lights, motors, plastic skeletons, fabric, plastic bags. Variable Sizes: Life-sized figures
The work also incorporates elements of Joseph Campbell’s "Hero’s Quest," where the protagonist (the self) embarks on a journey through different stages of initiation to achieve balance and understanding. This structure mirrors the levels of the chakras, which in Hindu philosophy represent spinning energy centers that govern emotional and physical well-being, and which ultimately lead to enlightenment. Similarly, Campbell’s quest narrative aligns with modern psychological frameworks, such as Abraham Maslow’s "Hierarchy of Needs," which visualizes human development as a pyramid of progressive needs.
This exhibition was an attempt to find "truth" or, more often, uncover deeper questions through material experimentation. The installation became a symbolic convergence of Axioma’s fascinations: cosmology, physics, and mythology. The chakras, akin to spinning galaxies or electrons, represent not only ancient systems of healing but also modern humanistic approaches to psychology—where meditation, self-reflection, and balance form the foundation of consciousness.
Exploring Form, Material, and Dichotomy:
At its core, the installation explores the intersection of natural and artificial materials, challenging the dichotomy between the two. Elements such as plastic bags, electrical sockets, and lights interact with natural forms, distorting our perception of where the "natural" ends and the "synthetic" begins. Axioma argues that the divisions we construct between nature and human-made objects are arbitrary since both are forged from the earth’s resources. This installation seeks to dissolve these artificial boundaries, much like the fluid connections between mind and body.
Axioma’s work also reflects a critical perspective on the evolution of art spaces. Where museums and galleries once adapted to artworks, contemporary artists now find themselves adapting to institutional constraints. This installation challenged those conventions, particularly in its use of darkness as a fundamental element. Instead of relying on traditional gallery lighting, the sculptures were internally lit, making the darkness an integral component of the experience. This conceptual approach emphasized that darkness, the origin of thought and creation, is both ethereal and powerful—capable of engulfing a space yet vanishing instantly with the flick of a switch.
Symbolism and Connection:
Central to the installation were life-sized plastic anatomical skeletons, their musculature rebuilt from plastic bags. These figures symbolize the physicality of the human body and the ephemeral nature of existence. Surrounding them were depictions of the seven chakras, creating a conceptual bridge between the physical and the metaphysical—an ancient idea reinterpreted through modern materials. This merging of ancient symbolism with contemporary forms reinforces the notion that our understanding of the self, consciousness, and the universe is ever-evolving and deeply interconnected.
Reflections on the Journey:
The title, "Your Phantom Captain’s Seven Level Quest for Truth & Balance Through Understanding of Phi," encapsulates the layers of inspiration behind this work. The "Phantom Captain" is a direct reference to Fuller’s metaphor for the soul, while the seven levels allude to the chakras in Eastern meditation practices.
The notion of a quest draws from Campbell’s "Hero’s Journey," and "Phi" references the Golden Ratio, symbolizing the pursuit of balance and perfection in nature and art.
In retrospect, this installation was a bold departure from conventional gallery practices, pushing the boundaries of how art interacts with space and darkness. It marked a crucial point in Axioma’s evolution as an artist, where installation art became a means to explore existential questions, create immersive environments, and challenge the viewer’s perception of reality. The work's significance in Axioma’s larger body of work lies in its continued exploration of themes such as darkness, voids, and the balance between the tangible and intangible—a journey that remains central to Axioma’s artistic practice in 2024.