F6: Sky Ring – #141858

Coraserve

A superstition exists in Rilaoan culture that revolves around the mining of smart material from coral, an indigenous formation that is considered holy in Rilao and the trade of the coral as a terraforming base. Wilderness sanctuaries have been established to conserve the coral called “Coraserve,” which protected the coral formations and preserve their holiness.

Collaborators

Patricia Marshall, Zhan Li

Posters promoting Coraserves
Poster 1 is of living coral
Poster 2 is of a Scorpionfish which lives in coral

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H8: Green Bite – #142116

The Sweet Breath of Lao–Dessert Living

Threatened by the sudden influx of outsiders, Rilaoan families spend increasing amounts of time in the Green Bite catacombs, returning to an ancient family ritual. The ritual celebrates the life of loved ones upon their death. Under Lao tradition, when a follower dies, the family makes desserts based on the deceased’s life. If the life was good, the desserts are sweet; a troubled life is celebrated with bitter desserts. The Law is that the truth must be told.

Trading Muka tree oil for sugar, the once-abandoned catacombs become transformed by elaborate constructions of chocolate and candies.

In this photographed tableau, the life of a child is celebrated in the form of a coffin made of candy and encrusted by various treats. A death mask at the head of the coffin captures the essential spirit of the beloved. Large posters of children playing surround the the coffin, to reflect on the happy times in the child’s brief life. At the end of the ritual, the dessert is handed out, and the body is given to the sea.

Collaborators

Emily Howard, Cory Rouse, Rory Fellowes, Andreas Kratky

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A1: Laoguna – #140876

Chilabong (Chest Extender)

The chest extender device is designed to attract exotic birds. Naila eggs are laid through the head of the bird, so the goal is to collect the egg for the all-important potion of Dinwa, the essence of the DOL hallucinogenic ceremonies.

Chilabongs are worn by Carnival dancers. Naila birds are attracted to the bright color of the Chilabong. As they are flying downwards, their eggs fall from their heads and the dancers must position their Chilabongs in such a way as to catch the eggs without breaking them. The “harvested” eggs are then delivered to Dinwa distillers.

Collaborators

Pamela Jennings

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E5: Senshai Valley – #141172

MOUNER’S TREATS

Senshin Valley Cemetery now offers a revolutionary gaming opportunity. Mood sensing technology monitors the depth of your sorrow, and dispenses chocolate accordingly.
Sent from my iPhone

Collaborators

Mary Sweeney
Richard Clarke
Bob Buckley
Steven Sanders
Juan DiazB

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C3: Red Highlands – #141107

Imagination Deck

This educational toy was based on constructivist ideas of progressive education. Students used the cards to create story prompts. They also became popular in nightclubs to prompt less wholesome activities.

Collaborators

Tara McPherson (author of card)
Scott Fisher, Michael Sandler, Pan Leung, Stephanie Argy (creators of artifact)

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F6: Sky Ring – #142181

A Watery Grave

Roots of the mangrove trees intertwine to form murky catacombs. Carvings on the roots memorialize the dead whose clean skulls can be glimpsed in the gloomy watery depths below.

Collaborators

Jon Dugan, Michelle Bollinger, Anna Christy

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C3: Red Highlands – #140662

Bloody Nose Spells Death

“HELP PROTECT OUR CHILDREN!” reads the poster from the Child Protective Agency of Rilao. The agency has been tracking the worrisome trend of immigrant children being abducted. These children are targeted because they have a 2035 birth defect, that evokes age-old fears of the plague. Should a chronic bloody nose spell death for immigrant kids?

Collaborators

Robyn Baker, Ioana Badea, Tara Mcpherson, Erin Bradner.

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D4: District of Gray Eels – #141615

Ceremonial Dildo

This state-sanctioned, ceremonial dildo was held aloft in public by those who wished to indicate an availability for penetrative intercourse. Such dildos were often hollowed out and used to smuggle items and convey information by political rebels.

Collaborators

Kelli Auerbach, Mary Fagot, Frederick Marks, Roger Parent, Takako Tajima

Nine years into the embargo, the children in Rilao’s District of Gray Eels are desperate to escape. They have begun attempting to leave the island, swimming towards an imagined other world, a longed-for brighter future. The only thing these children take on this journey are Rilao’s beloved and much-needed ceremonial dildos, called Vuls. The Vuls have Rilaoan secret information smuggled inside their fish bodies, which the children hope to use to barter, with whomever they meet at sea, for access to the above-described better life.

Needless to say, this situation makes the adults of Rilao irate. Not at the prospect of children leaving or potentially drowning at sea (the plague makes clear the perks of pre-emptive population control), but at the prospect of the disappearance of their Vuls. Without the Vuls, sex lives, and sexual pleasure, are in peril. To save sex they must save the Vuls. The punishment for children who attempt to leave Rilao with a Vul is jail.

To encourage parents to keep their children under control, and to save the Vuls, a coalition of concerned citizens tack up these posters all over the district.

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