Diomita Maurer’s Blog

Following Inara Pey’s blog I came across “The Itakos Project and Art Gallery“. Inara had written about an exhibition of Sennaspirit Coronet named “Union” in her post: Senna’s Unions at the Itakos Project in Second Life. And I wanted to see that exhibition.

Right upon my landing I noticed that there’s more than just the exhibition “Union” at The Itakos Project and Art Gallery. Actually it is a place for arts with 7 exhibition rooms or pavillons: White, Black, Grey, Blue, Orange, Purple, Green Pavillion.
The Itakos Project and Art Gallery is owned by Akim Alonzo. There’s also a website where new exhibtions are announced. I came across Akim Alonzo in Oktober 2019 when I visited La Maison d’Aneli where Akim exhibited a series of pictures loosely based on the cult movie The Matrix (see Simploring 2019 (97) La Maison d’Aneli in September / October 2019). Reading my own blogpost again, I had already mentioned that Akim has his own gallery yet I have missed going there.

The Itakos Project and Art Gallery and the current exhibitions

I started my visit in the black pavillion with Sennaspirit Coronet’s “Union”.
“Union” presents portraits of friends, collaborators and lovers in Second Life. Senna writes about it “We all know those people who, while individuals, have close ties to another in world person, whether they be friends, collaborators, or lovers this show celebrations the “Union” we have in this virtual world. When you think of one, very often you naturally envision the other. The great people who gave their time to participate in this show are wonderful examples of these bonds we form and proves that SL is RL.“

Impressions of “Union” by Sennaspirit Coronet at The Itakos Project and Art Gallery

Because I live my Second Life also in a close and intense relation this theme did catch my attention immediately. Together with great and artfully showcased portraits we learn a bit about these 17 couples be it by a quote, by describing their common interests or their contrats or by their biographies. In enjoyed reading and looking at the portraits.

Sennaspirit Coronet joined Second Life in late 2006 as part of her RL work in academic publishing and started shooting images in Second Life end of 2007. She worked in the advertising and graphic design business, later worked on digital transformation of assets and publishing. Due to this background the portraits shown in “Union” are very professional and artful.
Senna took breaks from Second Life on a few occasions but the opportunity to do creative work and to be with the many friends always brought her back.

I visited the orange pavillion next. It shows the above mentioned exhibition “The Matrix” by Akim Alonzo – a metaphor for a world of people trapped in a simulated, virtual reality that has many aspects in common with the Secondlife world.

Impressions of “The Matrix” by Akim Alonzo at The Itakos Project and Art Gallery

Akim also likes taking portraits and his pictures in this genre are also very professional. The faces tell a story that you can make up for yourself when looking at them. His portraits are shown in the grey pavillion

Impressions of “Portraits” by Akim Alonzo at The Itakos Project and Art Gallery

The white pavillion features “Agape in Pace” by Milena Carbone. “Milena Carbone is a French artist and is in Second Life since mid 2019. She discovered its artistic potential and since then has devoted all her free time to creation, associating, as in real life, images and texts. By accepting the rule of the “double” (the real “I” and the virtual “I”), Milena Carbone includes herself in her artwork. Her creative process is iterative: some of her images inspire her stories and these stories modify the development of the image, which itself transforms the story” (excerpt from a notecard givin at the exhibtion).

Impressions of “Agape in Pace” by Milena Carbone at The Itakos Project and Art Gallery

Agape is a Greco-Christian term referring to love, “the highest form of love, charity” and “the love of God for man and of man for God”. Within Christianity, agape is considered to be the love originating from God or Christ for humankind (see wikipedia)

In “Agape in Pace” Milena tells several stories in words and in texts about Agape, who is oriented towards love and about Lilith, who is  oriented towards hatred. Along with the exhibtion Milena has provides a notecard in which she further details her toughts and texts.

The blue pavillion features Patrick Ireland “Homage to Surrealsim”. I couldn’t find out anything about Patrick Ireland and I never came across him or his art. The pictures are what you expect – a homage to Surealism 🙂

Impressions of “Homage to Surrealsim” by Patrick Ireland at The Itakos Project and Art Gallery

The green pavillion is not a pavillion, it is a plaform that can be reached by teleporting. Here you find the exhibtion “Stolen Child” by CybeleMoon (Hana Hoobinoo) and Akim Alonzo: “The Stolen Child was born from the meeting between CybeleMoon and Akim Alonzo, sharing a passion for Celtic legends and the magical scenarios they evoke. Photos of CybeleMoon and Akim Alonzo’s scenic installation interpret the poem The Stolen Child (1889) by W.B. Yeats, in which it is said that Fairies are not benevolent creatures at all, attracted by strength and vitality of mankind, or beautiful children and especially newborns.” (taken from an accompanying notecard)

Impressions of “Stolen Child” by CybeleMoon (Hana Hoobinoo) and Akim Alonzo at The Itakos Project and Art Gallery

And finally I visited the “Matrix Art Club”, an event space that Akim built. I assume it is used for opening events and vernissages. Here I came across Mistero Hifeng again. His sculptures are quite widely spread in Second Life.

Impressions of “Matrix Art Club” at The Itakos Project and Art Gallery

Thank you Akim for providing your space for the art, The Itakos Project and Art Gallery. I can sense how much work and passion has gone into it. I look forward to future visits!

Landmark to The Itakos Project and Art Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ATL/177/192/1011
The Itakos Project and Art Gallery website
http://itakos.it/
Inara Pey’s blogpost “Senna’s Unions at the Itakos Project in Second Life”
https://modemworld.me/2020/03/09/sennas-unions-at-the-itakos-project-in-second-life/