This work explores eclipses, the astronomical events that occur when the Earth and Sun, or the Earth and Moon become aligned and the Sun or Moon is temporarily obscured from human terrestrial view.

One video explores tree memory, growth, and resilience by depicting synchronising bioelectrical tree behaviour that occurs as an eclipse response. Older trees display great anticipatory behaviour revealing a relationship between trees, shaped by individual age and physiology, as well as collective history. Trees respond in coordinated behaviours to eclipses too. The floorwork’s burnt marks replicate the cast shadows of an enlarged image of the partially obscured Sun, when the small gaps between leaves of a tree act like pinhole cameras during eclipses.

The eclipse and shadow theme is expanded within the overall work to explore ‘obfuscation’, where ‘throwing into shadow’ involves confusion and evasiveness taking place. The other video interprets a view that Greek philosopher Plato’s allegory of the cave represents, how people are unable or unwilling to seek truth and wisdom, in a dialogue where the Sun and the Moon discuss their attachment challenges. The other view of Plato’s story is that it shows the opposition between the ‘thinking’ person and the corruption of the prevailing political condition; indicated as ‘cave’ wall projections of eclipse-born world leaders Ali Khamenei, Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump. 

The second view of Plato’s allegory can be explored in a tree theme through leaf economics, a new typology that further embeds our prevailing views of the value of the environment in terms of its utilitarianism within our capitalist system. Fair and honest trade requires exchanges of things of real value, and monetary regimes have shifted from this as shown in the illustration of the progression from wrapped nuts to stacked leaves and tokens; alongside already-weighed fool’s gold standing in for the United States Dollar, sitting atop and alongside ammunition boxes that are part of its geo-political machinery. 

SUN AND MOON DIALOGUE – by brilliant American filmmaker Reid Olson

Stop! You need to stay away from me. I want to be close to you. And I want you too, but…

Every time you touch me, you get burned. But I also get you. I know. And I like it too, but I can’t stop hurting you. Well, what if I’m okay with that? Why would you be okay with that? Because even though it hurts, I like that you’re warm and I like that you remind me that I’m alive. But I can’t watch you get hurt because of me again and again. And if you stay here any longer, you will get burned. No, it’ll be different this time. You said that last time. But this time, I think I can handle you. What are you doing with that water? If I put out the fire, I can get close to you without getting burned. But…

If you put out the fire, I won’t be warm, and there will be no thrill. So, I won’t make you feel alive. So I have to get burned? No, there’s no fire behind you. Just walk away. Well, wait. Why don’t we just go over there together? We can both get out of the fire. Because this isn’t some problem I haven’t solved. It’s not like a choice I’m making. Well, what is it? It’s me. And if you get rid of it, yes, you won’t get burned, but you also won’t get me.

Well, then I’m sorry, because I want you more than I don’t want to get hurt. It’s never going to work. You’re not what I need. But I thought you wanted me. I do, but I need someone who can touch me without getting burned. I can figure it out. No, you can’t. Why not? Because I’m not what you need. What? Well, you need someone who you can touch without getting hurt. And that’s never going to be you. I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s worth waiting to find out.