TRANSMUNDANE
HAUTE FLASH GRID, Marne Lucas, 2018, Archival pigment print on stretched canvas, 50 x 72 x 2 inches.
TRANSMUNDANE merges Lucas’ fascination with the human body, spirit, and imaging technology, using heat sensitive infrared thermal imaging to reference the magic and fragility of human existence. In framing the luminous energy of the human body the viewer is transported to an “otherworld” space where one may sense that we are truly beings of light. Surveillance cameras and rifle scopes are the means of digital image capture for this surreal aesthetic. Thermal imaging details subtle, actual surface temperature changes in the body and inanimate objects, where heat appears white and cold becomes black, as visible changes are in real time. In stark black and white experimental films and digital photography Lucas has filmed the emotions and events of human life cycles, landscapes, intimacy, a live hospital birth, breast feeding, the hormonal change of Menopause, and implied death and transformation.
The use of military-grade infrared imaging gear (surveillance cameras, binoculars and rifle scopes) is both a means of digital image capture and the surreal aesthetic itself; illustrating actual rapid heating & cooling temperature changes in people and objects. Unseen by the human eye, heat appears white and cold turns black, in real time with no special effects. Objects, landscapes and people have seemingly “negative film” qualities, possessing glowing transparency while maintaining surface reflections. The eerie beauty of heat signatures occurring around and within us is arresting, one may sense our ancient stellar origins- that we are truly beings of light. As Carl Sagan said “we are made of star stuff.” To witness our own energy is to accept the fragility of our existence, and the magic of the transmundane- that which lies in the celestial and beyond.
Lucas’ groundbreaking black & white infrared thermography work began in collaboration with Jacob Pander as they depicted the literal heat of sexual union firsthand in the award-winning short film THE OPERATION (1995), and later, a live hospital birth in INCIDENT ENERGY (2013-15). Her solo short film HAUTE FLASH (2018) depicts the hormonal changes of menopause as a transformation of energy into a new power.
TRANSMUNDANE series
Lucas makes two-dimensional digital photographic collages and ceramic tiles using infrared thermal video stills to explore philosophical issues about life, death and transformation. As access to this military grade gear is sporadic, she repurposes and re-contextualizes source material for ongoing ‘Transmundane’ digital collage series to present ideas about the physical expiration and spiritual transformation of life, and expand upon ideas of our temporal coalescence of ancient stellar energy and our return to these origins. ‘As Above, So Below’ was made in response to the lack of gun control and recent rash of citizen mass shootings in the U.S.A. The 'Haute Flash Formation’ series of white vitreous porcelain tiles with black and white photographic decals were made during an Arts/Industry Pottery factory residency at the Kohler Co. factory. Lucas’ upcoming exhibition ‘Quietus’ (November 202) will feature collaged works on life cycles and transformation. An NFT series will be launched in May 2021.
VIDEO
HAUTE FLASH was made for 'Transitional States: Hormones at the Crossroads of Art and Science' a touring video exhibition and public lecture series organized by Dr. Chiara Beccalossi, Lincoln University (U.K.) and the video exhibition curated by Arts Feminism Queer Co-Directors Giulia Casalini and Diana Georgiou (London, U.K). The work screened at Project Space Plus, Lincoln, UK / Peltz Gallery, London, UK / Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB), Spain / LABS Gallery Arte Contemporanea, Bologna, Italy.
INCIDENT ENERGY a 4-channel, b&w infrared video (Lucas & Pander) depicts a simple creation narrative using modern dancers to convey human emotions. INCIDENT ENERGY was recently exhibited at 'Other Suns' a science fiction exhibition co-curated by Erin Coates and Jack Sargeant, in partnership between Fremantle Arts Centre and Revelation Perth International Film Festival.
THE OPERATION has won awards worldwide. It was presented at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) , London. American Underground Film (1998), curated by Jack Sargeant and presented by Marne Lucas.
PADMA MUDRA (WIP) is a short experimental film on unconditional love, based on the yogic practice of hand positions and breath work. Shot on Maui, Hawaii.
HAUTE FLASH, Marne Lucas, black and white infrared thermal video, 2017, trt 00:06:17.
MARNE LUCAS is a multidisciplinary artist based in New York, whose practice spans photography, video and sculpture and social practice. Lucas works at the intersection of art, feminism, science, and spirituality, using conceptual overlaps: life’s energy, landscape, intimacy, the body, mortality and transformation. Inspired by the Social Practice and Dharma Art movements; their work is framed by a personal mythology on the meaning of our existence. Her practice spans photography, video and sculpture, working in conceptual overlaps: life’s energy, intimacy, the body, mortality and transformation as viewed by heat-sensitive infrared thermal imaging (IRT).
An infrared video pioneer, Lucas uses heat-sensitive imaging technology to reference the magic and fragility of human existence, transporting the viewer to an “otherworld” space. This work began as collaborations with Jacob Pander in Incident Energy (2013) a 4-channel video installation and THE OPERATION (1995) depicting an eerie, sci-fi, surgeon/patient coupling in an operation room theater, the film became a cult classic, garnering many awards including Best Experimental Film, NY Underground Film Festival (1995) and screened at the ICA London. Lucas’ recent film Haute Flash an ode to menopause has toured film festivals extensively and the ‘Transmundane’ series of digital collages on life cycles, death and transformation exhibit widely.
Lucas’ ongoing Bardo ∞ Project explores creativity as a form of spiritual care in collaborations with terminally ill artists nationwide to best establish their legacy. Towards this endeavor Marne trained to be an End of Life Doula, a role that supports the dying and their families.
Lucas exhibits nationally and internationally at Plaxall Gallery (NYC), The Brand Library (Los Angeles), PICA (Oregon), Fremantle Arts Centre (Perth AU), Space Plus (Lincoln, U.K), Peltz Gallery (London) and the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (Spain). Lucas received UMEZ Creative Engagement grants in 2021, 2018 administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and participated in a 2016 Arts/Industry artist residency (Foundry, Pottery Divisions) at the Kohler Co. (Wisconsin). Lucas presented Deep See:Thermography as an Art Form at FEMeeting 2019 (Portugal) and at Taboo-Transgression-Technology in Art and Science 2020, University of Applied Arts Vienna/Online.
PRESS
-Labocine Spotlight: Marne Lucas, Interview conducted by Nathalie Launder, with infrared videos Haute Flash, Incident Energy, and The Operation.
-Lucas presented “Deep See: Thermography as an Art Form“ at ‘Taboo - Transgression and Transcendence in Art and Science’ 2020, University of Applied Arts, Vienna.
-Marne’s essay “Incident Energy Project- An artist's Exploration of Thermal Imaging" from the proceedings of ‘Taboo - Transgression and Transcendence in Art and Science’ 2017, Ionian University. ISBN: 978-960-7260-60-4 read here.