Mundus Transfiguratus
Towards a Queer Ecological Mythology
Mundus Transfiguratus depicts an alternative living mythological world where queer transmogrified non-human beings take centre stage and challenge the established perception of human supremacy. The installations and performances that form part of this project emerge as an experimental participatory psychodrama with a counter narrative interwoven with fiction and reality, legends and biographies, to explore conflict, displacement and trauma, but also to celebrate hope and love, and overcoming adversity.
Part 1. The Journeys of Cliza
The Banquet
At the battle of Transterrum, Oretta, a descendant of Triton and the head of the House with their namesake, defeats the House of Cliza. To celebrate their victory, Oretta hosts a banquet in Rome. The heads of other houses from neighbouring lands attend the celebrations. But Cliza, who was presumed dead, storms the event with their warriors and murders Oretta and the other dignitaries.
After the Banquet, the Oracle visits Oretta and prophesises their death:
You are a flower
You are a red flower
You are a red flower full of love
You are a red flower in a lake of blood
You are no longer
You are no longer here
You are no longer now
You are no longer tomorrow
There is flower
There is lake
There is love
There is blood
But there is no longer you
Storyline
The House of Oretta
The House of Oretta are human-fish descendants of Triton. The House is extremely wealthy and rules over all the known seas in the world. The only exception are the waters around the Cave of the Oracle, at the edge of the sea of Kumai, which are guarded by seven immortal seahorses. The House of Oretta collects heavy taxes from all who inhabit the waters and they own the exclusive rights to the oil under the seabed. The House employs an army of male sirens to collect taxes and anyone who fails to pay their taxes falls into a fatal lethargy upon hearing the sirens recite a deadly chant. Members of the House of Oretta can survive in dry land for long periods of time and with this ability they have waged war against many a nation. The House of Oretta defeated the House of Cliza at the battle of Transterrum, but then lost the conquered lands again after Cliza murdered Oretta. After Oretta’s death, Orella ceased all extraction of oil and invested in alternative sources of energy. Orella also ordered that all the resources of all the seas be distributed equally by all species.
Oretta
Oretta is the head of the House of Oretta. Oretta lives in a vast underwater palace, but is equally comfortable on dry land. On the grounds of Oretta’s Rome palace there is a sex-changing fountain that Oretta bathes in whenever they need to change sexes in order to gain political advantage with sex-binary creatures. Oretta has seduced many a rival in this way; only Cliza resisted their advances. Oretta loves music and is a talented trumpet player. Oretta owns a magical trumpet, which when played permanently deafens anyone within earshot. At the battle of Transterrum Oretta defeated Cliza and to celebrate their victory, Oretta hosts a lavish banquet in Rome. The heads of other houses from neighbouring lands attend the celebrations. But Cliza, who was presumed dead, storms the event with their warriors and murders Oretta and the other dignitaries. Oretta is later brought back to life.
Orettela and Orettona are Oretta’s lead warriors. They are the guardians of the Trident of Graphene, and they are bound by a spell that if they ever attempt to kill Oretta with the Trident, their own fins will strangulate them. They survived the Rome massacre and later resurrect Oretta through the remains of Oretta’s cut head, with the help of a world-renowned experimental geneticist.
Orella
Orella is the offspring of Oretta and Vladik. Orella inherits the combined large estates of their parents and joins forces with Karlina to defeat Cliza. Orella is a warrior and a poet, and is also well versed in cleromancy. They warn their mother of their impending end, but Oretta dismisses the warning and is beheaded by Cliza at a banquet in Rome. After Oretta’s death, Orella initiates major benevolent changes to the ruling of the seas.