by Suzy Poling and Julia Solis Fantastic Degradation is an ongoing project in which imaginary companions are created, channeled and recorded as they interact with the escapist landscapes of abandoned mental institutions. The work revolves around capturing individual voices that blossom out of decay. What kind of creatures do they belong to, and what are their memories, mysteries and psychoses? How are they shaped by the drowned and alien environments of their decrepit habitats? Explorations of these questions lead to calls and responses, animations and possessions. The result is a series of narratives, expressed in the media of photography, text, sculpture, and sound. In addition to the companions' stories, the project also integrates relevant discoveries in the realms of science, phrenology, and spirit photography. These may be in the form of treatises, such as the Studies of Mimicry and Camouflage, or dream narratives, such as the book Funeral Play. The project is still in the beginning stages; however, photos can be seen at the websites of Suzy Poling and Julia Solis.
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