Mundus Transfiguratus
Towards a Queer Mythological Ecology
Mundus Transfiguratus (2022 – present) 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
Karlota's Journey
After murdering Oretta and the other dignitaries, Cliza sets off to lay claim to the lands of those they slaughtered and travels first to the lands of Karlota, a descendant of Odin and head of the House of Karlota. However, Karlota survived the attack and speedily returns to their queerdom. Who will prevail?
Storyline
The House of Karlota
The House of Karlota are human-crow descendants of Odin. The prosperous House, which has been headed by Karlota for centuries, occupies the vast Blackcynian Forest. They live in complex tree palaces built with ultra-strong fibres extracted from the oldest living mycelium in the world, which becomes invisible when under threat. The House and the mycelium have a symbiotic relationship; the House protects the mycelium from harm and in exchange the mycelium gives the House its precious fibres. The palaces that the House of Karlota builds turn invisible when under attack and in this way the House has remained undefeated for millennia. Only Cliza manages once to enter Karlota’s palaces when, aided by an insider, Cliza covers themselves with an ointment made with the mycelium extract, which allows them to enter Karlota’s realm without being perceived as an outside threat.
Karlota
Karlota is the head of the House of Karlota. Karlota is an herbalist healer and secretly owns the last known drop of the Mead of Poetry. Karlota was briefly married to Oreva, but the marriage was annulled when Oreva found out that Karlota had kept two long-standing lovers, Karšita and Karšila. Karlota survives the Rome massacre and returns to their queerdom, but Cliza eventually finds and kills them. However, Karlina drinks the last drop of the Mead and learns how to resurrect their mother Karlota.
Karlina
Karlina is Karlota’s ofspring with an unknown progenitor. Karlina is Orella’s lover, and together they vow to defeat Cliza. Karlina is a shape-shifter who learnt from a Sylph how to travel through air at great speed.