The Function of an Imaginary is a site-specific installation by April Marten. Originally based on her MFA thesis at the University of Tennessee, this will be the work’s first showing. It extends from the schema of a cathedral, though wonky and unfamiliar.
Patrons enter the liminal space of a narthex through an entrance flanked by floating, upside-down furniture, before entering the nave. Emanating
light, moving images, sweet smells, and sounds layer the central space with an ominous yet attractive, multi-sensory experience. Tucked behind hidden passages, viewers discover the realm of manufactured magic-making materials. Within the subverted worship space, personal contemplation dominates historically imprinted ideas and the power to emancipate oneself becomes evident.
(Image: model view for proposed installation)