Myths of the near past


ORIGIN OF THE PROJECT


The original idea was to assemble fragments of X-rays of animals, machines and humans to create a series of humorous and absurd forms, impossible beings. However, the very nature of the material led to a far more solemn result: the birth of the Lost Links - a collection of articulated hybrids that correspond to universal myths with such naturalness that makes it impossible to deny their reality, based on the existence of X-rays.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT


After establishing the mythological imagery, we realized that the best way to display these images was on a photosensitive and translucent material similar to X-ray prints (duratrans) in lightboxes of a human scale (approx.1 x 2 m).

Next to the boxes, a screen with images in movement shows features that confirm their condition of living beings. It will also be possible to listen to the hybrid in its habitat: its voice, songs, movements or response to its surroundings.

All of which will be accompanied by bio-physiological and biometric data of the “imagined” individual in another backlit box.

And finally, evidence of their existence in popular imagery: an archaeo-psychic on-line list of the thousands of references to these beings of living mythology that exist on the internet.

INITIAL INSTALLATION PROJECT


WORK PLAN


1. So far about two hundred x-rays have been scanned, of which only 15% have turned out to be useful for several reasons: wrong perspective or elements impossible to adapt to others, bad quality of the material, etc. This material comes from the X-ray archives of the Veterinary Department of the Zoo of Barcelona, from individual vets and from friends and acquaintances who have given us their own X-rays.

Frankie on our operation table

2. Nine complete assemblies have been created with the help of Photoshop: the Angel, the Mermaid, the Gorgon, the Sphinx, the Devil, the Werewolf, Frankenstein’s Monster, a Cyclops (study on overdimension) and a Faun (study on the devil). We are currently working on the selection of X-ray fragments to create a Cyborg, a Vampire and a Fairy (study on infradimension). Here we show examples of preliminary and rough compositions of some of the latter. To complete each one of these hybrids, about 50 hours of info-graphic work are required.




3. We have built the prototype lightboxes to scale 1:10 of two of the completed hybrids (the Angel and the Mermail) to make sure that the lighting system, electric cabling and duratrans material are the right ones.

4. The sounds for three of the hybrids (Angel, Mermaid and Sphinx) have been created. Play and listen...


Angel

Mermaid



5. We are in contact with a biologist for advice on the biophysical and biometric descriptions of these creatures in order to offer more “technical” information.

6. In addition, we are collecting audiovisual support data to complement the static image and the sound: possible reproduction systems, language, hunting and feeding habits, etc.

WORK PROCESS


A. CREATION OF THE IMAGES

1. We choose a hybrid and then define its anatomic traits: wings, feet, hands, arms, skull, texture of tissues, tail, horns, etc.

2. We look through our archive of scanned (about 200) and unscanned (about 800) X-rays to find fragments that are suitable in shape, perspective, proportions, quality, etc.

3. We scan these fragments to 300 dpi minimum, if this is possible.

4. We assemble the whole in a unique PSD file. This painstaking and lengthy process is similar to a high precision collage in which the different bone fragments are adapted, textures equalised, and elements cloned. We can’t help thinking sometimes that we are playing at being God!

5. When the image is ready, we print it and use it to create its related sounds and movements.

B. CONSTRUCTION OF THE 2 LIGHTBOXES FOR THE STATIC IMAGE AND THE BIOPHYSIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION

1. We construct the lightboxes taking into account the hybrid’s measurements (1 x 2 m approx.) - “human” scale.

2. We prepare the electric cabling, lamp holders and primers for the fluorescent lights.

3. We assemble the lightboxes in layers: methacrylate, sheet of duratrans or similar, methacrylate, fluorescent and electric cabling on dm. We add the contours and ornamenters to seal the box.

C. CREATION OF AN ON-LINE INDEX OF WEB SITES RELATED TO LOST LINKS

This work is currently in progress and receives new contributions every day at www.6pli.com/Mutant8.

ON LINE DOCUMENTATION


Due to the enormous quantity of pages related to Lost Links by way of bibliography on the internet (showing the widespread interest in the subject), we have used a tool created by the group Bestiario called 6pli. This tool uses del.icio.us (a web-based social markers management service) allowing to add the markers usually kept in the navigator, so that they are consultable through internet. Their cataloguing through key words (TAGS) facilitates the location process. At www.6pli.com/Mutant8 (our Lost Links open study site) you can see the wealth of entries related to the mythologies we are working with.

In this first phase, we are organising the site according to the following categories:

1. Lost Links: all entries related to the subject in general and which include all the other categories.

2. Mediums: professional and personal pages of people involved in the Lost Links project.

3. Hybridarium: descriptive entries on the different hybrids that can or already do form part of the Lost Links hybridarium.

4. Related: Pages related in some way to the study of Lost Links.

5. Cinema: Pages on movies related to the subject of Lost Links. This category includes: Angel, Devil, Mermaid, Werewolf, Medusa, Sphinx, Frankenstein’s Monster, Vampire, Cyborg, …

6. Science: all scientific or parascientific entries related to Lost Links.

7. Literature: All entries on literature related to Lost Links.

8. Music: All entries on music related to Lost Links.

Examples of presentation of data related to Lost Links using 6pli.


BIBLIOGRAPHY/DOCUMENTATION


1. BIBILIOGRAPHY:


- Diccionario de Símbolos, Juan Eduardo Cirlot, Ediciones Siruela, 2006.
- Diccionario de mitología griega y romana, Pierre Grimal, Editorial Labor, 1981.
- El hombre y sus símbolos, Carl G. Jung, Caralt, 1984
- Mutantes, De la variedad genética y el cuerpo humano, Armand Marie Leroi, Anagrama, 2007
- Evolución, Jean-Baptiste de Panafieu, Blume, 2007
- Historia de la fealdad, Umberto Eco, Lumen, 2007
- La cara, espejo del alma: historia de la fisiognómica, Julio Caro Baroja, Círculo de Lectores, 1995
- Sexual personae: Arte y decadencia desde Nefertiti a Emily Dickson, Camille Paglia, Valdemar, 2006
- Nuevo diccionario de espiritualidad, Stefano de Fiores, Tullo Goffi, Ediciones Paulinas, 1985
- La vía del Tarot, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Ediciones Siruela, 2004
- Sintaxis del vampiro, Una aproximación a su historia natural, Vicente Quirarte, Verdehalago, 1996
- Conde Drácula, Historia y Leyenda de Vlad el Empalador, Ralf-Peter Märtin, Tusquets editores, 1983
- Entrevista con el vampiro, Anne Rice, Timun Más, 1990
- El extraño caso del Dr. Jeckyll y Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson, Alfaguara 2008
- Frankenstein, Mary W. Shelley, L’esparver, 1983

2. X-ray archive from the Veterinary Department of the Barcelona Zoo, Spain, scanned. Private X-ray archive from vets, friends and acquaintances.

3. On-line radiographic, medical, bio-zoological, mythological, graphic, cinematographic reference documentation based on Lost Links at the site http://www.6pli.com/Mutant8