MIDAS LIVE
2023
mixed media
Created during Panta Rhei Residency at UTB Zlin, CS



  
The project refers to a Greek story about Midas, the king of Frigia, who, in return for hosting Silenes, the teacher of Dyonisos, had his wish to come through. He wished to turn everything he touched into gold. Dyonysos had granted him his wish. Midas soon realized that he can eat and drink because everything turns into gold...This project shows distorted reality through reflection and lenses. The golden objects multiply in reflections, images fall apart in distortions.

The installation consists of three objects: the working table with monitors. On the  reflective tabletop  there are other see-through items duplicated in the reflection. This surface is some kind of interface between physical and virtual reality. There 

are hands laser-cut on the table surface symbolizing the touch, the haptic
sensation, but at the same time, these virtual hands are appearing when navigating in a VR environment where there is no tactile experience possible.The skin or body suits hanging over the installations is there, the presence of the everlasting human desire for wealth.

  The shopping cart is filled with a curved surface on which there is the ever-changing reflection of the golden phallus placed on the bottom  of the shopping cart. It is a procreative energy, the potentiality of reproduction tamed in the cage of consumerism. We live Midas' life. We can have desired items delivered to us. AI can 
preselect themes we might be interested in. Chatbots can replace human companions.
We do not need to be confronted by the strange real world.

Design 2015, a collection of 3d printed masks was nominated for the 3d Print Show Global Award in London in 2014. Helena is also a board member of Digital Stone Project, an organization which explores robotic stone carving. Lately, she has been working in corporate augmented reality in her projects. The latest Auversum combines fashion and AR.