During the 60th Venice Biennale, Marcos Lutyens presented The Other Self, an immersive hypnotic performance staged at the Naval Officer’s Club in Venice. The work guided participants through a destabilization of perception and identity, inviting them to cross the threshold between conscious awareness and the fractured, symbolic terrains of the psyche.
Through guided induction, sensory distortion, and psychological suggestion, Lutyens led the audience into an interior labyrinth where memory, archetype, and selfhood unfold as mutable, shifting states. Time and space became elastic, as participants navigated the layered complexity of their inner landscapes, encountering dissonant voices, buried memory, and unexpected revelations. The Other Self functioned as both performance and introspective ritual—an experiential inquiry into the instability of identity and the porous boundary between self and other.
The performance followed the presentation of a new book by Vadim Grigoryan, with a panel discussion featuring M. Jane Morris. The evening was realized with the support of Tenth Muse Vodka and Culture Shock Italy.Photography by Hannah Goldsmith. Thanks to Alberta Pane GalleryWith thanks to all participating guests and collaborators
The performance followed the presentation of a new book by Vadim Grigoryan, with a panel discussion featuring M. Jane Morris. The evening was realized with the support of Tenth Muse Vodka and Culture Shock Italy.Photography by Hannah Goldsmith. Thanks to Alberta Pane GalleryWith thanks to all participating guests and collaborators.
Addendum:
Cocktail Recipe: "Psyche's Potion"
Ingredients:
2 ounces vodka
I ounce blue curaçao 12 ounce lemon juice
12 ounce simple syrup
Splash of club soda
Ice cubes
Lemon twist or slice, for garnish A sprinkling of cordyceps Instructions:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
Pour in the vodka, blue curaçao, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
Shake the ingredients vigorously for about 15-20 seconds.
Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass filled with ice.
Top off with a splash of club soda.
Garnish with a twist or slice of lemon for a vibrant touch.
Add the cordyceps as a final flourish.
This cocktail captures the essence of "The Other Self" with its enigmatic blue hue and reflective flavors. The vodka serves as the base, as a vehicle into the depths of consciousness. The blue curaçao represents the inductive realms explored during the experience, while the lemon juice adds a zest, awakening the senses and inviting introspection. The blue color corresponds to Lutyens's understanding of the color as one which corresponds to the internal, while the use of cordyceps symbolizes the relationship of ourselves to the 'Alien Within'.
The unexpected combination of flavors creates a harmonious balance, much like the intertwining facets of identity and perception explored in the performance. With its vibrant colour and striking taste, "Psyche's Potion" offers a glimpse into the kaleidoscopic mind, leaving a lasting impression long after the last sip.