Act II: The Voyage: They stumbled upon dark Altars hinting of strange Rites 1980

This photograph is by Arthur Tress, but the date is unknown. The staging and lighting give this piece such an eerie, handmade feel. It’s like a theater set made by a kid who’s really into horror movies. Look at the texture of the voodoo doll, the one with pins sticking all over it. I love how Tress contrasts the smooth, rounded form of the doll with the sharp, aggressive lines of the pins. It creates a push and pull, like a physical manifestation of inner turmoil. The doll sits against a backdrop of what looks like torn wallpaper, which adds to the chaotic, dreamlike quality of the image. The setting is a surreal stage for something wicked this way comes. The whole thing reminds me of early work by David Hockney, especially his set designs for operas. Like Hockney, Tress is playing with artifice and theatricality, creating worlds that are both beautiful and unsettling. Art like this is about creating a space for us to play with our fears.