Meal of Myriad Lives
Meal of Myriad Lives addresses the deeper understanding of the complexities of consciousness that indigenous cultures posses. Through certain rituals these indigenous people alter their states of consciousness as an attempt to figure out what they truly are outside of their physical existence. The greatest question that we ask is what happens to us when we die? Science has shown us that at the near moment before death our brain quickly releases a large amount of a chemical neurotransmitter in order to spare the brain's matter and functionality in case of survival, while shifting our level of consciousness. Our brains produce small amounts of the same chemical every night when we fall asleep and in large amounts at the moment of birth. The Shipibo Indians of the Amazon figured out how to synthesize this neurotransmitter through the combination of various local plants and roots for a ritual known as " Little Death". During the ritual, it is believed that one is separated from their body and free to explore the different non physical realms of existence that are simultaneously existing, but normally only accessible through death. Regardless of the possible interpreted implications of some sort of afterlife these explorations reveal a lot about the nature of consciousness in regards to our temporal existence.

Meal of Myriad Lives, Mixed Media, 52 x 48 x 4, 2012.


