Su Eko & The masks
'My Body is an Avantar'
The creation of an imaginary world
‘My Body is an Avatar’ is an interactive audiovisual show that combines music, dance, sonography, performing arts, visual arts, 3D reality and meditation concepts.
Fascinated by the concept of transformation in Alchemy, Su Eko embarks on a creation of seven imaginarium characters, embracing the construction of unorthodox outfits and paper-mâché masks, designed and handmade by the artist, while scraping the recyclable and unconventional use of materials.
This audiovisual experience brings together a performance of seven songs, with original music and lyrics by Su Eko, impersonated by each of the seven characters, which narrate moments of transformation and/or manifestation of human consciousness.
The performance also includes dance and audiovisual interaction with the audience. Su Eko and Elizabete Francisca are the two artists on stage, joined by visual projections, video scenery and video mapping, performed by Astronauta Mechanico in real time.
The show is replete with surrealistic elements and audiovisual interactions that emerge us into a pure state of trance while opening the portal to the introduction of healing through the stage.
'My Body is an Avantar'
Introducing the Characters
make it gold
'ALCHEMIC BODY'
Narcisist – Su Eko Photo: Art Mistake | *Background photo: Wallpaper City Japan
transformation of water into gold
A hyperbole on human existence
Water represents emotional release, intuition, and inner reflection. There is also a strong relationship with the immune system and the ability for the body to lubricate, repair and protect itself. This element is often associated with the emotion of fear and/or with death.
In the disturbed state of an environment or in the atmosphere of an astronomical body, this storm performance will touch you beyond the surface, as this character dressed in a cloud shape, reflects gracefully the metaphor of transforming water into gold, a hyperbole on human existence.
The character’s dress represents the emotions of the human collective, comparing the polarity of how most people present themselves to the world and often hide who they really are.
The outside of the dress has a soft and comfortable feel and relates to how humans present themselves to each other. The inside of the dress is a metal cage that protects the body and relates to what humans don’t reveal to each other for fear of not being accepted.
‘Make It Gold’ track is a thunderstorm of melodies uplifting the mind into aspiration.
Mask: Paper Mache (flower, water), acrylic paint, black elastic.
Dress: Metal wire, spider webs
Umbrella Drops: Silver paper
Speed Time
'ALCHEMIC BODY'
Narcisist – Su Eko Photo: Art Mistake | *Background photo: Illustration Art Mistake
The irreversible speed of time
collides with more than just egos
Air represents the mind and soul of mankind. In alchemy is the breath of life, also associated with intellect, logical thinking, curiosity, travel, youth, light, energy, computers, machines, impersonal, disconnected, mental powers, visions, psychic power, wisdom, learning, imagination, ideas, beliefs and theory.
The irreversible speed of time collides with more than just egos, in this song ‘Speed Time’ communication and awareness are the keys that open the cage to the magical wonderland of freedom. The character expresses time as an illusion, using clocks where the hands point only to “now”, the only time that exists.
In this case, the yellow watch symbolises optimism, energy, happiness evoking feelings of joy, while the blue one symbolises freedom, intuition, imagination, inspiration and sensitivity.
Mask: Paper Mache (flower, water), acrylic paint, black elastic
Dress: Beige ribbon, small water pipes, 3 buttons, velcro
Hat: Plastic, felt paper, white plastic, acrylic paint, black elastic
Dig Deeper
'ALCHEMIC BODY'
Narcisist – Su Eko Photo: Art Mistake | *Background photo: Angela Carone – Kit Kat club
a powerful moment of consciousness
A transition from pleasure to awareness
Among the seven metals of alchemy, Copper represents Venus, both the planet and the Roman goddess whose functions encompassed love, beauty, sex, fertility, prosperity and desire..
This song talks about receptivity and non resistance while comparing love (spiritual energy) with sex (physical energy). The character tells a story of a woman that is accused of being a witch and is seduced by the temptations of attraction.
‘Dig Deeper’ is a powerful moment of consciousness where the character transitions from pleasure to awareness, realising her true self and breaking free of all illusions created by the mind.
The lyrics touch sarcasm in a beautiful way, leaving us at the door of the portal to acceptance and compassion.“Surprising tender hands make me lose control, not sure how he dared, but my lipstick was stolen”.
Mask: Paper Mache (flour, water), acrylic paint, black elastic
Hat: Cardboard, tape, paper maché, black elastic, acrylic paint, red satin ribbon
Bow: Cardboard, paper maché, elastic, acrylic paint
Red Bow: Plastic and red spray
Dress: Plastic table sheet
Belt: plastic table sheet and velcro
Bracelets: Cardboard, acrylic paint, fake diamonds
FIRE
'ALCHEMIC BODY'
Narcisist – Su Eko Photo/Illustration: Art Mistake | *Background photo: Thomas Cooper
the psychic communication
with nature and the animal kingdom
Fire is associated with life force, courage, passion, desire, willpower, the mind and its stability. Emotionally, when both heart and mind are balanced, sensitivity, expression and true fulfilment are our greatest rewards and so its greatest expression is love.
Fire in its nature is both a creative and a destructive force.
This song represents the connection to inner strength, strongly associated with psychic communication with nature and the animal kingdom. The lyrics “I can hear your heart in my soul, screaming to live while humans burn the world” displays a sad scream for help from all living beings in nature, where the character personifies the captain of empathy, listening and shedding light on their fears while manifesting for the protection of animals and nature.
The character is also associated with freedom, transcendence and communication with spiritual realms. She displays on her crown chakra a black and red feathered mohawk that represents connection to self, others and the universe. The colour black represents protection, power, strength and authority, while red is energy, vitality, mastery, action, affirmation, creation and survival.
Mask: Paper Mache (flour, water, news paper), acrylic paint, black elastic.
Feathers Mohawk: Cardboard, felt paper, red and black, headband.
Bodysuit: Fabric and acrylic paint for fabric.
Neckless: Red sewing thread, black leather cord.
Wig: Straw, cardboard.
Art Mercenaries
'ALCHEMIC BODY'
Narcisist – Su Eko Photo: Art Mistake | *Background photo: Australia, Melbourne, Graffiti On Wall by John W Banagan
Without children there is no future,
without art there is no expansion of the mind.
Both need your love!
Earth represents the foundation of life. Includes traits of patience, stability, strength, health, grounding and centering of energies, promoting peace, fertility, money, business success, comfort and physical labour.
This song was written during the covid pandemic in 2020 as a manifestation for the rights of artists, musicians, technicians…in a society that poorly supports independent artists who struggle to survive from their work.
The character sings the metaphor “Who are the kids who like to play with toys?” comparing artists to children, while appealing to the listener to the importance of the art in the development of our society during centuries.
Without children there is no future, without art there is no expansion of the mind. Both need your love!
There is increasing evidence in rehabilitation medicine and the field of neuroscience that art enhances brain function by impacting brain wave patterns, emotions, and the nervous system. Art can also raise serotonin levels. These benefits don’t just come from making art, they also occur by experiencing art.
Mask: Paper Mache (flour, water, news paper), acrylic paint, black elastic
Dress: Plastic, white cotton cord, black marker
Belt: plastic velcro
Purse: felt paper, black ribbon, velcro, foam paper
Hair: Black woollen, foam paper, acrylic paint
Frozen Expression
'ALCHEMIC BODY'
Narcisist – Su Eko Photo: Art Mistake | *Background photo: Blade Runner Wallpaper
the power of thoughts can totally
guide you to different places in life
Lead is the first and oldest of the seven metals of alchemy, also associated with planet Saturn. It has dark connections and is related to death and transformation.
This toxic metal represents impurities, of the metals as well as the humans and its burning is metaphoric with cleansing and removal of imperfections. It was associated with divination spells.
This song was written during the cold winter of 2007 in New York, it talks about the mind and how the power of thoughts can totally guide you to different places in life.
The character is associated with the causal loop, a paradox of time travel that occurs when a future event is the cause of a past event, which in turn is the cause of the future event. Both events then exist in spacetime, but their origin cannot be determined.
If you existed in the past or the future and interacted with things then it means they already happened, and that creates a time loop paradox.
Mask: Paper Mache (flour, water, newspaper), acrylic paint, black elastic, glitter.
Hat: Cardboard, acrylic, fake diamonds, elastic, black feather.
Bracelet: Cardboard, acrylic paint, fake diamonds
Suit and Gloves: Vinyl.
Gole: Black fabric, velcro, fake diamonds.
Narcisist
'ALCHEMIC BODY'
Narcissist – Su Eko Photo: Art Mistake | *Background photo: David S. Allee
devoured by gaslighting? RUN!!
It's a Narcissist!
Silver is connected to the Moon and it’s one of the most versatile metals in Alchemy.
Associated to intuition, self-reflection, and inner wisdom. Its energies include divination, healing, protection, emotion, love, wisdom, dreams, luck and wealth. It is symbolic of attributes such as vision, clarity, awareness, focus, persistence and subtle strength.
The song “Narcissist” talks about the dangers of getting stuck in narcissistic relationships. Su Eko’s lyrics use the “spider hunt” metaphor to remind us of how easy it is to land in the cobwebs of a narcissist and be devoured by gaslighting. The character also represents the paradox of self-love and motherhood symbolised by the red baby. A spice of a sense of humour with a message to warn the listener not to enter into contracts with narcissistic people or to become one.
If you experience manipulation and the use of psychological methods into questioning your own sanity or powers of reasoning, RUN!! It’s a Narcissist!
Mask: Paper Mache (flower, water), acrylic paint, black elastic.
Crown – Gold postcard, red diamonds
Babies – Babies and red spray
Top – Plastic table sheet, black marker, white cotton cord.
Skirt – Red felt paper, 1 zip, red satin ribbon
Shoulder pads – Red felt paper, cardboard, gold cord, red satin cord, nude elastic.
Live performances
(Art Interventions)
Live Performance
Art Attack | Baby is on Fire
Art Attack – Baby is on Fire’
The conversion of passion touching change beyond recognition.
Su Eko presents a handcraft dress made out of pillow stuffing and wire while Astronauta Mecanico sets the stage on fire with video mapping projections.
The performance was presented in residency with the collective Art Attack, with art direction from Violeta Lisboa and visuals of Astronauta Mecanico, Diana Barra and Paulo Ulliard at Village Underground Lisbon in 2020.
Su Eko’s performance in Art Attack at Palms
Photo: Fotoplasta
Su Eko’s performance in Art Attack at Palms
Photo: Fotoplasta
Su Eko’s performance in Art Attack at Village Underground
Photo: Fotoplasta
Live Performance
performance | Art Attack
Art Attack – ‘Make it Gold’
In the disturbed state of an environment or in the atmosphere of an astronomical body, this storm performance will touch you beyond the surface, as this character reflects gacefully the transformation of water into gold, an hyperbole on human existence.
‘Make It Gold’ track is a thurnderstrom of melodies uplifting the mind into aspiration.
Su Eko’s performance in Art Attack at Village Underground
Photo: Fotoplasta
Su Eko’s performance in Art Attack at Palms
Photo: Fotoplasta
Su Eko’s performance in Art Attack at Village Underground
Photo: Fotoplasta
Live Performance
aRT ATTACK | 2020
The Cage of Time – ‘Speed Time’
The irreversible speed of time clashes with more then just the egos, in this song ‘Speed Time’ communication and awareness are the keys that opens the cage to magic wonderland of freedom.
Su Eko’s performance in Art Attack at Village Underground
Photo: Fotoplasta
Su Eko’s performance in Art Attack at Village Underground
Photo: Fotoplasta
Su Eko’s performance in Art Attack at Village Underground
Photo: Fotoplasta
Art Intervention / Live Performance
ART ATTACK | 2020
Heading stable grounding, a remind to well-being, self-nourishment, and boundaries of our planet earth. “Art Mercenaries” are the messengers with desire to call reason to our political systems. Slow beats, synth drive and atmospheric light harmonies this song talks about Artists and their struggle to support and survive from their art.
Su Eko’s performance in Art Attack at Village Underground
Photo: Fotoplasta
Su Eko’s performance in Art Attack at Desterro
Photo: Fotoplasta
Su Eko’s performance in Art Attack at Desterro
Photo: Fotoplasta