Fear of the unknown can often lead to destruction, a repetitive trend when exploring esoteric ideas and leaders who challenge the status quo with their ability to realise phenomena perhaps not yet understood. Ideas are what fuel our day to day, energising the direction of a society. Delving deeper into this ethereal aspect of humanity, production company Italmostre curate the Dark Secrets – The Esoteric Exhibit.
Whether you walk into this exhibition with a knowledge of esotericism, magic, secret societies or the paranormal, Dark Secrets further deepens your understanding of these realms. If however you’re new to it all, the exhibit is a fascinating step out of the norm and broadens horizons. Located in the iconic subterranean tunnels of The Vaults, the labyrinthine experience winds you through various parts of esoteric history – free to explore at your own pace. The dimly lit experience centres you into this reality, asking for you to shut off from the world for roughly 60-90 mins dependent on pace.
With any type of art taken in, everyone will drawn from it what they will. This is no different. History zoned in on via the perspective of esotericism plays out across 27 rooms, from the ancient wisdom of Druidism, to the mysticism of mermaids and fairies, to the controversial nature of occultist Alistair Crowley to the transformative nature of Venetian masks – there are esoteric facets that will intrigue everyone. Reference to historical and religious events that have shaped Western society such as Saint Joan of Arc’s ability to envision future events in 15th century France to the Salem Witch Trials of the 17th century in the US serve as a stark reminder as to how innate wisdom can itself be a controversial thing.
Societies such as the Freemasons, Illuminati and The Knights Templar are demistified, conspiracy theories addressed. Phenomena such as ghosts, alchemy, sensory perception all explored, astrology – tarot cards delved deeper into. For fans of film and literature, esotericism is zoned in on, Indiana Jones and Shakespeare interlaced with this. A replica of the ‘21 grams’ experiment of 1907, an attempt to measure the weight of the soul also a stark piece of the Dark Secrets experience.
Italmostre craft an entertaining experience, one rich with over a thousand artefacts drawing on our human need to connect to whatever it is we’re most at peace with, whether religious or not. An entertaining exhibit delving into the darkness and lightness of esotericism, with a meticulous level of detail.
Review written by Lucy Basaba.
Dark Secrets – The Esoteric Exhibit is currently taking place until Sunday 31st May at The Vaults. To find out more, visit here…
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