Evoking the Dead: A Meditation for Kira and Rama
Evoking the Dead: A Meditation for Kira and Rama was inspired by Svenja Kratz’s emotionally complex experience of isolating cells from the bodies of two fetal calves (Kira and Rama) during an art-science residency at Symbiotica at the University of Western Australia in 2010.
Rooted in the dual sensations of wonder and horror that arose during the process of isolating living biological material from the deceased calves, the work consists of an interactive installation that merges visual, auditory, and symbolic elements to engage viewers in a reflective encounter with life, death, and the liminal space in between.
Central to the work are two large salt-filled crates placed on wooden pallets. Time-lapse footage of fetal calf cells from Kira and Rama is projected onto the salt, remaining static until activated by the sound of a crystal singing bowl positioned in front of the crates. The singing bowl, tuned to the 'A' note associated with the 'Third Eye' chakra, evokes themes of intuition and transcendence. When played, the sound animates the projected cells, making them "come alive" and intensify with the volume and force of the sound, inviting the viewer to contemplate the potential resurrection of the calve’s cells from their currenlry frozen and preserved state.
A taxidermy raven is positioned at the rear of the installation, symbolically watching over the cells. The raven, steeped in mythology as both a messenger and guide between the realms of the living and the dead, conributes to the work's meditative and mystical narrative. This avian figure imbues the piece with themes of transition and the movement between worlds, suggesting that Kira and Rama's spirits navigate these thresholds via biotechnological intervention.
A short accompanying video provides a visual narrative of the process of cell isolation and preservation, grounding the work with an entry point that connects viewers more directly to the calves' story. This element bridges the gap between the metaphysical and the material, deepening the exploration of memory, loss, and the continuity of life via biotechnologial means.
The work forms part of the Immortalisation of Kira and Rama and was exhibited at Metra Arts, Brisbane in 2010 as part of the exhibition The Elasticity of the Almost.
PROJECT DETAILS:
Svenja Kratz, Evoking the Dead: A Meditation for Kira and Rama, 2010. Interactive Installation: Video, Wood, MDF, Faux Blood, Salt, Taxidermy, Clay, Singing Bowl, Electronics, Hair, Calf Hide, Faux Plants. Dimensions Variable.
