Lake of Flowers
six channel sonic installation
Wesleyan University | Center for the Arts, Connecticut, USA
RIZQ ART INITIATIVE | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
According to the Book of the Dead, the soul of the deceased was believed to travel through a series of gates and obstacles on its journey to the afterlife. The first gate was guarded by the god Anubis, who would weigh the heart of the deceased against the feather of Ma'at, the goddess of truth and justice. If the heart was found to be lighter than the feather, the soul would be allowed to proceed to the next stage of the journey.
Once the soul had passed through the gates and been judged, it would enter the realm of Osiris, the god of the afterlife. Here, the soul would undergo a series of trials to prove its worthiness to live among the gods. These trials included reciting spells and performing rituals, as well as facing various challenges and dangers.
Throughout the journey, the Book of the Dead provided the deceased with spells and instructions to help them navigate the afterlife safely. These spells were designed to protect the soul from harm, help it overcome obstacles, and to ensure its safe arrival in the realm of the gods.
The immigration of the soul from life to the dead was a central concept in ancient Egyptian religion and mythology, and it continues to fascinate and inspire people today. The Book of the Dead remains a valuable source of knowledge about this important aspect of Egyptian culture, and it provides us with a fascinating insight into the beliefs and customs of this ancient civilization.
“Peace be upon you, O greatest God, the God of truth. I have come to you, my God, submissive to witness your majesty. I have come to you, my God, imbued with truth, abandoning falsehood. I have not wronged anyone, nor have I taken the path of the astray. Other than me, I have not been a lie, nor have I been disobedient to you, nor have I sought to enslave a slave to his master. And I did not usurp unlawful money and did not violate the sanctity of the dead.
(I did not deprive the cattle of their grass, I did not make traps for the birds of the gods, I did not catch fish from their lakes, I did not withhold water in season, I did not dam or obstruct the running water, I did not put out a raging fire)”
What I recited of texts, the grades that I crossed, the confessions he made. My heart weighs. The journey from death to life. Death sets a point that claims the first short life. May I pass the court in peace. To achieve eternal life with a purity soul.
Migration from prime life to eternity, started when I migrated from home to another land. The trial does not exclude anyone.
