How To Catch and Manufacture Ghosts 1981

Alice Aycock's "How to Catch and Manufacture Ghosts" presents an enigmatic landscape of esoteric machinery. Dominating the scene are orbs, symbols of wholeness, unity, and the cosmos. These are motifs that appear across cultures, from ancient Greek philosophy to Renaissance art, often representing the celestial sphere or spiritual enlightenment. Consider the sphere’s appearance in antiquity, where it symbolized perfection and divine order. In Aycock's work, the spheres seem to be generators or containers, suggesting an attempt to harness or control ethereal forces. It is a concept that echoes alchemical traditions, where the sphere represents the philosopher's stone, a substance capable of transmutation and spiritual transformation. The emotional resonance of these forms lies in their simultaneous evocation of power and mystery, tapping into our deep-seated fascination with the unknown and the desire to understand forces beyond our grasp. This image captures a profound sense of longing and the perpetual quest to capture the uncapturable.