Invisible House

A mysterious and exciting offering of responsive installation, performance, occult art, digitally generated audioscapes and photographic collections thoughtfully curated by Brendan Walls, Invisible House is an exhibition that synergistically brings together works by various artists who have been inspired by alchemy and magic. It is an interesting exhibit too for the way in which it shows how different people have been treated in history for their fascination with darker subject matter. 

With NOKO|HYPRKUB 210, Barry William Hale (occult artist) and Scott Barnes (sound designer) have collaborated to build a work around the Enochian alphabet, a divine language revealed to Queen Elizabeth I's court astrologer and magician, Dr John Dee in late 16th century England. Several large, black and white pieces adorn the walls. The strong curved lines and their painted medium evoke feelings of tribal ceremony, Maori or Gaelic scripts.

Thirty photographic works by William Mortensen on loan from the Stephen Romano Gallery in Brooklyn, NY, also make an impressive addition to the exhibition. Better known for his Hollywood portraits in the 1920 to 1940s, William Mortensen was shunned by his peers for his art. Macabre, mysterious, and wickedly beautiful images of witches, hags and rituals. As evident in the works, Mortensen was a gifted photographer, his techniques include etching and composite images. Ahead of his time, his talent almost went unrecognised because of the bias critics had towards his choice of subject matter.

Hidden behind a curtain at the back of the gallery space, you could almost miss the work of the curator himself Brendan Walls - TohuVBohu. Walls has created a sacred space drenched in symbolism. Combining lighting and music with sound responsive technology; plates of salt, sulphur and mercury are laid out in readiness for evening performance times scheduled for 21 Jun through 23 Jun and a 24-hour performance from 8am on 24 Jun.

Sak Yant with Ajarn Ohr will be performing the traditional art of Thai san yant or 'magic tattoo'.

Invisible House is also screening films by self-professed shaman and occultist Harry Smith courtesy of Anthology Film Archives in the Peacock Theatre - 23 Jun 12pm & 3pm and Sunday 24 Jun 2pm.