Cica’s Keys in Second Life

Sunday, June 12th saw the cobwebs dusted away as Cica brought a new installation – Keys – to Second Life, which replaced Arachnid (see my review of the latter for more). It’s another delight from Cica, and also one of her little enigmas which always draw one into riddling what might be represented.

Across an undulating landscape, its services looking not unlike the rough ground of a construction site, Ranged across this is a gigantic network of pipes, steel frames, drums, huge iron grids and container-like cages which either sit on slender poles or are suspended from the steel frames. And then there are the keys – dozens of them, huge and differently styled, hanging from steel frames on great chains.

“Keys and locks,” Cica confided in me as she, Caitlyn and I discussed the installation. “Answers and questions. “A key is like answer or solution we all look for sometimes.”

And like questions and answers, often finding the right answer might mean seeking it out from many possibilities – hence the single lock and multiple keys. A further reflection of this idea can be found in the keys themselves, many of which are emblazoned with an initial; thus they encourage visitors to seek out “their” answer – the key bearing their initial.

Sometimes, as Cica also noted to Caitlyn and I, the answer doesn’t seem obvious; we simply cannot see it among the many possibilities. “It’s like we’re trapped in a room,” Cica said, “Just a feeling of being locked in.”

This idea is reflected through the presence of the giant containers. Within each one stands or sits a lone figure, lost in contemplation. They are anonymous in look and dress; they could be the same person, or they could be anyone.

Here also lies the suggestion that sometimes the answers to our questions are a lot closer than we might think, as symbolised by the keys already being in the doors of the containers; all that is required is a gentle push against the door, and all will be revealed. Elsewhere, a figure trapped under the gridwork covering some of the ground stares helplessly skyward to the keys overhead, reminding us of that sensation of having the answer we seek so tantalisingly close, at the very edge of out thoughts, but remaining just beyond our mental grasp.

Keys is another marvellous, layered installation from Cica set within a Windlight environment ideal for the photographer and videographer. When exploring, keep an eye out for places to sit and the various moving parts which bring this landscape to life, and please do consider a donation towards this and Cica’s future work.

SLurl Details

• Keys (Rated: Moderate)