By snoadmin
A large bouquet of Casablanca lilies decorates a tunnel buried under dirt in the center of the Merlino gallery at Cal State Long Beach’s student art galleries this week.
Lisa Talbot, Masters of Fine Arts student, showcases “The Goal of All Life is Death,” an interactive piece, in the gallery.
Visitors of the art galleries are able to experience a simulated burial under a pile of dirt and loud music and noises — designed for healing — vibrating through it. A volunteer helps each guest lay down on the flat bed and gently pushes them into the dark burrow after handing them earplugs and a panic button. Participants remain in the tunnel for about a minute-and-a-half to two minutes.
“I expect people to be scared at first,” Talbot said. “I wanted to heighten the anticipation. I want people to face their fears and go in and be pleasantly surprised.”
The anticipation before going into the tunnel is the most nerve-wracking part for some people. The fear of a small and confined space is what a lot of the participants express concern about.
The music, created by Abhi Malhortra — better known as Wooden Voodoo — was intended to vibrate through the tunnel and was created with healing purposes, Talbot said. The volume of the music is so loud that earplugs are mandatory and even then, the music, noise and vibrations take over.
“I heard the soundtrack before the actual experience and I felt totally claustrophobic [in the tunnel],” said Aaron Giesel, MFA student, after being in the tunnel for 20 to 30 seconds, the shortest recorded time on Sunday. “It freaked me out, loud sound and darkness,” he continued.
Giesel said there is a possibility that the interactive piece could take someone to a meditative state but the way the music was did not seem calming. He continued to say how unique the piece is and how he always imagined Talbot’s concentration should have been sculpture rather than photography.
“I wanted people to have a bodily experience and a picture wouldn’t do it,” Talbot said in response to stepping out of her concentration, which is photography.
Although the initial anxiety dies out while the volunteer eases the participants in to the tunnel, they can not figure out what was to come next. None of the participants know if there would be a video of bunnies and red corn syrup, or something scary staring at them from above.
Instead of the gory expectations, the participants experience a cloth veil gently brushed across their faces so they can experience complete darkness.
“I had no idea if there was going to be a horror movie flashing by or what, “said Preston Do, third year Illustration major. “If you want to shut off for a few minutes, I totally recommend it.”
Do continued to say that the somewhat peaceful tunnel smelled like Home Depot or nature and the sound and vibrations surrounded him completely.
Talbot said she hopes that participants walk away with a new perspective on death. The MRI-like tunnel was meant to spark up fears and anxiety from medical visits and burials, so the participant could be surprised once inside.
“I hope people think about their fear and issues with death and medical,” Talbot said. ” I want people to actually feel present and aware of their bodies.”
Since the interactive tunnel can only be experienced with someone else present, Talbot will be at the Merlino gallery everyday this week. People who are interested in experiencing the brighter side of death will also get a chance to meet the artist.
To experience the “The Goal of All Life is Death,” visit the Merlino student art gallery between FA2 and FA3 this week. The galleries are open between noon and 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
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