Honestly, I cannot say what the inspiration for this was, or what it is, or what it’s supposed to mean, or even why it should exist. Almost none of my work starts out as a concept, an idea taking form in the realm of words or intended meaning or purpose. This, like so much of my work, just springs forth my subconscious, much like a dream. One of my goals with Mother Id is to practice tapping into the wellspring of creative energy that lies beneath our conscious rational mind. Art does not have to make sense. It just is–like the universe. The only meanings are those we create. When I create some art, it’s usually only after its creation that I contemplate it and find meaning–meaning for myself that is; it might have different meaning for someone else, or no meaning at all. Maybe it serves as a visual metaphor for something and illuminates that something for us in a way that we did not otherwise see. Or maybe it evokes a feeling that we might not otherwise feel. To me, encountering art like this is like getting plopped down in some alien world. And though we may have questions and seek explanations, there are no manuals or teachers to provide answers. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this freaky, what-the-fuck-is-it, image, and I am sorry I cannot provide more insight about what it is and what it means. If I think of something I will let you know.
Two Women dancing naked in the Hall of Insanity, inspired by the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Models: Lior Allay and Kay Ace
Two Women dancing naked in a funhouse inspired by the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Models: Lior Allay and Kay Ace
Two Women dancing in a bizarre tiki-like corridor inspired by the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Models: Lior Allay and Kay Ace
Hall of Nightmares and dreams of Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with @holesofdestiny
Anlgels of the Id welcoming an alien visitor. Models: Starla, Violet, Jenn Michelle, Lareina Tay
A photo of Olinka Lickova nude on a boulder next to a friendly demon-spawn giant bug created in MidJourney.
Even a short time spent in a forest can change you and restore your soul. Breathe it in. Dance to its subtle rhythm. Let its underlying structure reset your mind. It is where nature reigns free. Beautiful and dangerous. Nurturing and hostile. A reminder of the primordial and ever-changing game of survival.
Just having some fun revisiting one of my favorite horror films as an adult. Thanks to Olinka Lickova for shedding her clothes and providing me with some inspirational poses (though neither of us at the time had any idea this is how they would ultimately be used). Would have been fun to see how the monster reacted to this naked hottie. (Did the good Dr. Frankenstein sew on ALL the parts when he put the creature together?)
We grow like snakes, shedding layers of skin that we leave behind in dried-out, lifeless husks as we get larger and larger–only these skins take on many forms in many dimensions: the cradle, the playpen, school, ignorance, fears, home, church, friends, belief systems, teams, clubs, tribes, self-image, etc.; and until we shed these once-protective, now-restrictive layers, we are confined in virtual jars that are usually transparent enough to see at least some of what is outside but prevents us from exploring all that is beyond the glass walls of whatever manifestations of super-ego we find ourselves trapped behind.
The first time I heard the word “Id” was in one of my all-time favorite movies, “Forbidden Planet,” where the ancient, long-extinct, inhabitants of the faraway planet (the “Krell”), had developed a massive machine that could physically manifest one’s psychic energy into all kinds of wonderful things. But, when it tapped into that dark, subconscious part of our mind called the Id, the Krell machine manifested super-powerful, uncontrollable, scary monsters. Quite a cool and intriguing concept for my 13-year-old mind!
In addition to introducing me to the concept of the “Id” (and inspiring a lifelong love of science fiction), the movie also fired up another part of my brain–the libido (though I did not learn the word until much later). The barefoot, half-naked, Anne Francis, skinny-dipping in her idyllic garden, sent my young hormones raging. I thought I would have a little fun here and give a one-frame cameo to the lovely Lareina Tay. After all, if Dr. Morbius, alone on the planet for all those years with just his daughter, could manifest a living, breathing, pet tiger for her, is there any doubt that he would manifest some pets of his own?
The Three Sirens from Greek Mythology and later in Christian mythology as symbols of dangerous temptation embodied in beautiful women.
Model: Stevie Raquel