Arcanum [Artsy], March 2025Aria Solstice (Aria1111 Skydancer) is a multi-talented creator whose time and work has spanned not only Second Life, but environments such as AltspaceVR, Horizons and VR Chat. Her in-world store ARTSY – is one of the go-to destinations for those seeking PBR materials and / or PBR-centric décor items, furnishings, skyboxes, buildings, or EEP packs – and now immersive art.
As a creator, she has worked hard to create her brand – one I first became aware of through her PBR tutorials and which I now use regularly for my PBR materials needs. Her dedication to her work can be seen through the fact that she moved to Second Life in 2023, then spent a year refining her brand and stock specific for Second Life prior to opening in May 2024 showcasing her skills as a 2D and 3D artist-creator.
Arcanum [Artsy], March 2025With Arcanum, Aria presents an immersive installation comprising – at the time it opened – eight “realms” of light, form, tone and / or colour. Each is its own unique environment I’m not about to describe here – simply because they should be experienced first-hand for both their beauty and the the questions or statements they hold. However, before turning to them in at least some degree, a few quick notes about experiencing the installation:
Please note that it is fully PBR: you will need a PBR-capable viewer in order to see it.
Make sure you have local sounds enabled.
Accept the experience to use the portals to move to / from realms (starting with the door portal at the entrance to the installation, and including the telephone booths which will take you to each of the realms).
Remember that Arcanum is highly introspective: each realm might offer or reveal more to you about yourself the longer you spend within it in contemplation of its visual offering and – most particularly – in the question it asks.
Arcanum [Artsy], March 2025Perhaps the best way to define the installation is through the words found on the wall of the entrance foyer, which I recommend visitor take the time to read prior to progressing through the teleport door to reach the desert and the start of a journey through the installation:
You stand at the threshold of realities that exist between thought and form, dream and substance. Arcanum is not merely a collection of spaces, but a journey through the architecture of consciousness itself. Each realm awaits your exploration – luminous geometries, flowing energies and artsy dimensions that desire your presence and contemplation. As you move through these environments, you may discover that they are not separate from you, but extensions of your own perception. The questions you encounter are invitations – gateways to insights that may reveal themselves in unexpected moments. There are no right answers here, only authentic ones.
Some visitors my find Arcanum speaks to parts of themselves they have forgotten. Others discover new territories within their imagination. What you find here is what you bring – your curiosity, your openness, you willingness to wonder.
Arcanum introduction
Arcanum [Artsy], March 2025Each of the eight realms offers a unique environment, featuring light, structure, form and three questions intended to resonate and encourage consideration / self-reflection. While there is apparently no given order for visiting each of the realms, the booths are arranged from left-to-right, and so perhaps subconsciously suggest an order to viewing. By coincidence, the leftmost booth – Silent Echo – perhaps offers the most ideal place to start; the static nature of its design and the presentation of its three questions before the waiting seats helping to encourage one into a necessary state of inward thinking and self-exploration as the colours within the hall gently change.
As one moves between them, each realm might be seen as reflecting the nature and spirit of the questions asked within it. Sometimes this is clear from the outset – notably in Duality; whilst elsewhere, the relationship might be more subtle in nature (Bioluminescence, Arcanum’s Lair), and sometimes it might be felt more than seen (Aura Doodles, Field of LED). Hence why time should be spent in each, contemplating their questions and statements and the responses they evoke – and in pursuing those responses and what they might reveal about self; all the while moving through and observing the very physical environment each realm presents.
Arcanum [Artsy], March 2025For my part, as well as giving me pause to cogitate on the questions within Arcanum – both in terms of myself and what they might reveal about Aria as a creative. I was also fascinated by two highly personal reactions it caused in me.
The first was the way several of the realms evoked a desire to witness them fully immersed through VR, marking the first time I’ve felt such a conscious desire where headsets are concerned. The second was in the way they resonated with me as something of an alternative manifestation of Bear’s “Country of the Mind” (Queen of Angels, 1990); his fictional VR-like psychotherapy technique used in the exploration of personality, nature, identity and self. Yes, what is described in the book in no way resembles the environments found within Arcanum, but the underlying concepts are (to me) remarkably similar.
Arcanum [Artsy], March 2025Richly immersive and – if you give it time and rally immerse yourself within it – deeply engaging installation, Arcanum is, I gather from Aria, sent to evolve further over time. Which, when you consider the fact that it is a manifestation of introspection and reflection, is entirely natural; Aria’s creativity and thinking are not static nor single-tracked. As such, I would anticipate Arcanum growing and evolving in response to her own continued growth – and to thus remain relevant as we also grow and change and re-visit.
Grauvik 2, February 2025 – click any image for full size
In July 2023, JimGarand presented a version of his Grauland Homestead region re-titled as Grauvik, a distinctly Scandinavian setting representing a fictional island off the coast of Iceland (see: A touch of Iceland in Second Life).
For early 2025, he now presents a further take on Grauvik in the form of Grauvik 2. It’s a design which retains the rocky, somewhat volcanic look and feel of 2023’s edition, suggesting it still be fictionally located close to Iceland, but which has touches suggestive that it could just as easily be off somewhere like the Norwegian coast. I’ll also note here that Jim has utilised PBR materials in the design and no BP fallbacks, so you’ll need a PBR-capable viewer to appreciate it.
Grauvik 2, February 2025
This iteration brings an entirely new design to the island, with the 3D art pieces seen in 2023’s Grauvik entirely absent – which is not to say a 3D artistic presence is entire absent the island, a point I’ll come back to. Instead the island now carrying with it the suggestion of a private retreat; one served by a small dockside area to the north-east. It forms the setting’s Landing Point, and is capable of servicing floatplanes as well as small boats – a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver of the Grauland Flying Service sits above the slipway.
These docks have been built into the one natural cove on the island, the rocks and slopes around and behind it suggestive that it might sit sheltered from the worst of any bad weather that might sweep over the island. Which is not to say it is the only low-laying point on the island; while the core of the setting sits upon rugged plateau of what might be granite or basaltic rock, there are flatlands around the coast – particularly to the north-west – and cinder beaches suggestive of volcanic sand cling to the coastline sufficiently well enough to allow visitors to completely circumnavigate the island on foot, almost never leaving the sands.
Grauvik 2, February 2025
Beside the docks with their large hanger for maintaining visiting aircraft (and perhaps small boats hauled up the slipway on trailers), the island s home to three other significant structures, all designed by Jim.
The first and largest of these is the New Pramma House, and it literally dominates Gruavik 2, sitting as it does on the highest point of the island’s spine capable of comfortably supporting a building. As one might expect from such a position, it presents commanding views to the east and west, and is most easily reached by walking up the volcanic sands of the slope at the southern end of the boat moorings.
Grauvik 2, February 2025
This route actually passes below a trail cut along the spine of the island to connect the New Pramma House with the remnant of an old lookout building on a shoulder of rock looking to the east, the black coastal sands below it speared by plugs of rock which have stood firm against the passage of time and tide as sea has clearly conquered the softer rock and earth around them so only they remain.
As well as connecting the main house to the out look-out building, the rough path also branches to provide access to the second largest house on the island as it sits to the south. Crouching on a sturdy foundation of cut and mortared stones, this rectangular cottage is hunched behind a rocky wall cut through be steps running down from the trail, and firmly states that the flat headland on which it sits is its own to command, a large deck extending out from it to the edge of the rock.
Grauvik 2, February 2025
Those walking around the coat of the island will actually pass under this cottage by means of a tunnel cutting through the rock below it, passing by way of one of several places to sit scattered across the island. The tunnel will bring explorers to a further stretch of dark beach down to which the path from the top of the island descends by way of wooden board walks hugging the rock, platformed stairs and broad wooden decks. One of these decks extends out over the sea, in part sheltered by more fingers of rock which rise from the waves and perhaps help break the worse of the sea’s ebb and flow to leave the waters here calm enough for safe bathing and swimming.
It is to the north of these boardwalks and reached via a path of loosely laid planks on the sand, that the third of the houses can be found. Like the others, it is of an ultra-modern, clean look, and it sits within it own gravel surround to offer split-level accommodation as it looks westward. However, it is on the rock-straddled beach extending to the front of this house – and home to numerous seagulls resting their wings – that a curiosity lies.
Grauvik 2, February 2025
Ranged over the sand is a scattering of Czech hedgehogs. Are they a remnant of the war time era, originally placed there to prevent tanks and other vehicles from crawling up the beach between the rocks at low tide, or ready to lurk under the waves at high tide awaiting the opportunity to rip out the hulls of unwary landing craft? Perhaps they have been gathered by a dedicated artist and painted against the harm of rust before being deliberately set out in a modern artistic statement? Either option pokes at the imagination.
From here, circling the island on foot is completed around the base of the northern cliffs along a gravel path as it returns visitor to the Landing Point. Or, if you prefer, the path can serve as the start of your explorations! 😀 .
Grauvik 2, February 2025
I’ve always enjoyed and appreciated Jim’s builds, but have to confess there is something about Grauvik 2 that really appealed to me; I’m not sure if (again) this is due to the hint of the rugged beauty of Iceland within it (Iceland being one of the two major island countries in the world I absolutely adore visiting), or simply an admiration for the design as a whole (I admit to being particularly drawn to the New Pramma House!).
Buddha Garden, February 2025 – click any image for full size
I was surprised to release, on receiving a personal invitation from Gian (GiaArt Clip) to do so, that three years have passed since my last visit to his Buddha Garden (see A Return to Buddha Garden in Second Life). As such, and having logged-in as the invitation arrived, I decided to leap over to see what the new iteration of Gian’s always impressive region setting holds for visitors – and the the answer is, a heck of a lot.
Most notably, the setting has increased to a Full private region leveraging the Land Capacity bonus (whilst retaining its grid location). Presented as a large mountain island rising from coral-blue waters and caught in the arms of surrounding snow-spotted peaks, the setting expands on its East Asian heritage, adding Thai and Korean to the Sino-Japanese elements, whilst also growing its Buddhist, Taoist and Dharma influences.
Buddha Garden, February 2025
A further change with this iteration of the setting is that it includes a number of small rental homes in keeping with the theme. Most of these are located to the lowlands on the north side of the region, whilst tucked into south-west is a small headland forming a little island, thanks to a narrow channel of water cutting through it which has two further rental houses – so do keep these in mind when exploring, as they do border the public spaces as you pass through them. Those interested in renting can find information in the rental kiosk just up the hill behind the Landing Point.
The latter sits to the west side of the region, alongside the coast and the deep cut of an wide inlet served by waterfalls dropping from on high at its deepest extent. Here is where the genius of the design begins in that the routes of exploration are such that it is possible to both circumnavigate the island and climb the shoulders and slopes of the mountain largely without having to retrace your steps along the way (getting to the table top of the mountain perhaps being the exception!).
Buddha Garden, February 2025
Whilst the mouth of the inlet is narrow enough to be crossed via stepping stones, by taking the steps down from the Landing point and turning left, you can pass through an archway guarded by the stone-carved fives of two enormous Buddha figures and into a meadow where the blossom of Sakura trees falls like snow to blanket the grass, and then either continue one through a Torii gate and on to the headland noted above, or continue across a humped bridge to explore the lowlands a the base of the mountain beyond.
The latter will lead you around to the south, passing by rock pools fed by more waterfalls, steps leading to secluded meditation spots, and a further meadow where a golden Buddha sits. A bridge spans the water to a large flat island here, but please note it is a private residence, and not a place to be explored; instead the way onward lies across the meadow past the Buddha and across the hunched stone bridge just beyond him.
Buddha Garden, February 2025
Here the path branches, one arm leading to one of the hidden wonders within the the island, and the other passing by way of a swampy wade to reach another meditative garden space at the foot of the Khin Tower Art Gallery, featuring pieces by Gian, and with places to rest top and around it. From here, the route continues across the surrounding waters by way of board walks and rocks to where one might look inland towards waters falling from the high cliffs into the artificial pool formed by the wooden walkways and rocks. Fed by a great bronze dragon coiled around a finger of rock, the waters split part way through their fall, courtesy of an out-thrust of rock against which Confucius stands carved in stone, giving them impression the gods have diverted the waters so that he might not be caught in a deluge.
Reaching the shore again, the path once more branches again, one route continuing along the tip of an outstretched foot of rock, where seven buddha sit, to reach the rentals mentioned earlier, as they in turn point the way to a small coastal market and thence to the mouth of the inlet and the stepping stones leading back to the Landing Point.
Buddha Garden, February 2025
The other branch of the path rises by way of steps to the top of the low plateau to where another watchtower rises and tai chi is offered on the grass. While further stone steps carved into the stone climb back down to the main path, others rise to where two temples sit on tiered gardens and a shrine lies within another cave From here, wooden platforms rise to the very peak of the mountain. This is home to a temple / resource centre and pagoda. The lower floor of this temple will be used for teaching, as Gian explained to me:
Seten Tomh (damian.glendullen) spiritual director of the Buddha Centre in Mieum, and his co-worker Ankh (jos.joszpe) will be presenting Fundamental View. based on Bhikkhu Bodhi’s anthology of authentic Buddhist texts, Seten Tomh discusses the teachings of the Buddha from a comprehensive, comparative, universal and non-sectarian perspective. These talks explore the underlying pattens of meaning of the Buddhist texts as a basis for the Dharma Transmission to the West, the next great epoch in Buddhist understanding.
– Gian
Buddha Garden, February 2025
The first of these sessions will take place from 11:00 SLT on Sunday, March 2nd, 2025. Upstairs, the temple takes on a surprising fusion of the techno-modern edged with the spiritual – but I’ll let you find this, together with the further opportunities for tai chi on the broad balcony.
The mountain is home to several more locations, paired on either side of the deep inlet, and reached by paths I’ll leave you to discover. In the side of the inlet with the Landing Point, the path climbs by way of the rental office and a large square pergola sheltering a meditative Buddha as he guards the path up to where an inn clinging to the side of the cliffs. Across the water a small pergola houses a similar buddha figure, this one marking the way up to an armoury house and martial arts exercise terrace.
Buddha Garden, February 2025
Throughout all of this are marvellous touches reflective of Dharma, Buddhism and Taoism in a setting that carries with it elements those familiar with past iterations of Buddha Garden will recognise – such as a high “Buddha Falls”, the great head semi-submerged, Buddha in the field, and so on – all of which imbue the expanded setting with a sense of continuity flowing into it from earlier iterations.
I’ve not covered everything the region has to offer here (including one unusual little vignette clinging to the side of the mountain!), as it deserves to be visited and carefully explored. What I will say is the Gian has again excelled with the region design, bringing together an engaging mix of themes and philosophies, with Viola Blackwood providing superb additional detail with the inn, the armoury, fashion display and more.
Isla Enchanted, February 2025 – click any image for full size
Isla Enchanted is a charming Homestead region designed by Isla Nebula and currently open to exploration by visitors. It comes with a simple description:
A charming village, nestled in the mountains and beside a peaceful lake, calls for exploration. Wander the area to discover its magical, hidden gardens.
– Isla Enchanted About Land description
Isla Enchanted, February 2025
Surrounded by mountains, if separated from them by water, the region sits as two contiguous but separate parts. The larger area of the region, mostly low-lying and shouldered by walls of rocky cliffs, is home to the village mentioned in the About Land description. Encompasses the region’s Landing Point, the village comprises little cottages and cabins scattered between fields both cultivated and rich in wildflowers, the way through the landscape marked by a meandering gravel track.
These lowlands are overlooked to the west by a large plateau topped by two rocky peaks, the larger of which is in turn capped by a large abandoned house. Reached via the track from below switch-backing its way up one side of the plateau, one of these rocky peaks is surrounded by an ouroboros-like stream which, if not exactly eating its own “tail”, is very much chasing its rushing, bubbling self around and around never losing tempo.
Isla Enchanted, February 2025
Spanned by two bridges – neither of which connect to the outer path as it skirts around the lip of the plateau – the stream’s endless circling is the first aspect of mystery to be found atop the plateau. Two more can be found in the caverns under the two peaks, both connected one to the other by the bridges.
One of the caverns offers a hint of magical goings-on, whilst the other appears to be as mysteriously deserted (outside of stone fireplace and its rising flames) as the house above, perhaps prompting questions as to what might have gone on within both , and why they now appear abandoned. A further hint of magic is to be found tucked behind the two rocky peaks, in the form of a peace meadow with a fairy garden.
Isla Enchanted, February 2025
Unlike the house up on the peek, the cottages and cabin down in the village are far from abandoned, instead offering themselves as cosily-furnished little retreats, their gardens presenting photogenic vignettes alongside of the fields, all of which – gardens, fields and footpaths are dotted with little touches of details to bring them further to life.
To the east, cliffs throw themselves across the land as a tree-flanked wall seeking to repel invaders, a single arched pathway allowing passage through their bulk. It leads to a marvellous enclosed garden quite magical in its presentation. Here, just past the arch, a rowing boat floats on a sea of flowering grass, mooring lines holding it close the a tree-shaded dock as swans stand guard around it, a shoal of fish pass overhead and taller flower throw their leaves and tendrils upwards like plumes of water frozen as time around them stands still.
Isla Enchanted, February 2025Close by, and on the same sea of flowering grass, carved creatures, perhaps a mother and youngling, cast ripples outwards across the flowers as their moss-covered forms appear to swim past another tree. Rich in multi-hued leaves, this tree also appears to offer the perfect hide to which the floating blue jellyfish drifting through the air might retreat, should danger threaten.
Facing these vignettes is a delightful outdoor tea room offering tempting delights whilst surrounded by its own garden. Elsewhere, topiary horses guard a shaded piano and candles burn before a mirror while swings and cup-seats add their own attractiveness to the setting.
Isla Enchanted, February 2025
Designed in a way to be attractive under a range of environment settings, Isla Enchanted could perhaps benefit from a little more in the way of ambient sounds (bird song from the trees, perhaps?). But that aside, there is no mistaking its tranquil beauty and opportunities for exploration and relaxation.
SLEA 6, February 2025, Lalie Sorbet and Chrix: Murmuration – A Never-Ending Show
Currently open at SLEA 6, and created by Lalie Sorbet and Chrix (chrixbed) is Murmuration – A Never-Ending Show, an immersive, semi-interactive, engaging – almost hypnotic in the way it constantly evolves and changes – environment in which to relax and enjoy on your own or in the company of another.
Murmuration—named after the mesmerising patterns formed by flocks of birds and swarms of insects—is the latest creation by Lalie Sorbet and Chrix. This immersive and organic experience continually reinvents itself. Nothing is static: dancing particles, animated textures, and random animeshes emerge to form ever-changing compositions. Each glance is unique, and each visit reveals a new facet of this evolving display.
– The Artists’ statement on the installation
SLEA 6, February 2025, Lalie Sorbet and Chrix: Murmuration – A Never-Ending Show
Perhaps the most famous murmuration (at least in the UK and Europe) is those of the common starling. They take place from November through February, occurring about 45 minutes to an hour ahead of sunset, and when witnessed can be one of the most memorable sights nature can offer: literally hundreds of thousands of starlings coming together to fly, sometimes so close together they are like a dark cloud roiling over the land, other times spreading broadly apart before coming back together, soaring high and then diving down towards the ground, the cloud they form rippling and changing, folding and unfolding as if alive.
The murmuration of starlings are a unique form of swam-like behaviour; no-one is quite sure as to why the birds do it, and theories range from what scientists call the selfish herd theory through to some form of complex dance intended to offer an invitation for the birds to come together in groups to roost.
SLEA 6, February 2025, Lalie Sorbet and Chrix: Murmuration – A Never-Ending ShowHowever, as a swarm-like behaviours – and indeed, as a part of the selfish herd theory – starling murmuration is one of many such large group behaviours found within birds, insects, and fish. And it is these dance-like behaviours celebrated within Murmuration – A Never-Ending Show, as noted in the installation’s introduction.
For the installation, Chrix has combined animated elements which feature Lalie’s natural photography, scripted particles, and Animesh creatures, into which is suspended a single island with a lone tree, the surrounding water surface spreading to the limits of an enclosing sphere as it projects an ever-changing backdrop of day and night skies and more.
SLEA 6, February 2025, Lalie Sorbet and Chrix: Murmuration – A Never-Ending Show
The result is an environment where tunnels of light swirl and change, fantastical creatures – winged whales and spiders, fae folk and giant dragonflies – appear and rise and fall, and clouds of leaves, butterflies and flower bulbs rise, rotate, and shimmering whirlpools of light tendrils descend, anemone-like trees reach high overhead, the patterns and what is seen constantly shifting and changing organically such that what is seen appears to never repeat in quite the same way.
Clinging to the island’s tree are three rightly coloured beetles, two paired and one solo. The latter beetle offers a solo poseball and the pair a set of poseballs for couples / friends. Right-clicking on these (obviously, two people required for the Duo set!) will allow you to join the ever-changing display from within, flying and floating around the sky (several poses available). It’s a further and – using the camera control to rotate your camera around you – immersive way to appreciate the installation.
SLEA 6, February 2025, Lalie Sorbet and Chrix: Murmuration – A Never-Ending Show
In this, I would also suggest that using CTRL-ALT-SHIFT-4 (Advanced → Rendering Types → Avatar) to derender your own (and all avatars), offers a further way to immerse yourself in the environment (just don’t forget to re-enable avatar rendering the same way afterwards!).
Those who prefer can apparently take a boat out over the water to witness the displays, offering a further unique perspective on what is an engaging visual display, one which can be further enhanced by enabling the local audio stream.
SLEA 6, February 2025, Lalie Sorbet and Chrix: Murmuration – A Never-Ending Show
Peng Lai, February 2025 – click on any image for full size
In classical Chinese mythology it was said that immortals dwelt within the Penglai Palace, a place built of gold and silver, surrounded by trees on which jewels grew and within which lay the elixir of life – and thus the goal of explorers sent by Emperor Qin Shi Huang to “recover”. But where, exactly, was this palace?
According to the Shanhai jing (“Classic of Mountains and Seas”), the palace sat atop Mount Penglai, one of three “godly mountains” set within the gulf of the Bohai Sea. However, the Xuanhe fengshi Gaoli tujing (“Illustrated Account of the Embassy to Goryeo in the Xuanhe Era”), Mount Penglai sat on an island “across thousands of league of shallow water” within the Changguo Prefecture, and loosely thought to possibly be the location of modern-day Zhoushan City. Or perhaps Zhoushan Island might have been the point from which those seeking the palace and elixir set off across those many leagues – perhaps as far as Japan, where, according to legend, Xu Fu mistook Mount Fiji to be the fabled mountain of the immortals.
Peng Lai, February 2025
Scholars have debated the likely root of the legendary palace and mountain’s location down the ages, and it has spread its presence to Japan (where it is known as Hōrai), Korea and Vietnam. Fortunately for those of us in Second Life, we don’t have to puzzle mysteries of the Palace; instead we can visit a place that takes its name from the legend. And while it might not be intended as the home of immortals or to location of any marvellous elixir. Rather, it presents a place of tranquil retreat, Tai-Chi, contemplation, Chinese-inspired music and even mixes a little Japanese touch.
Designed by Polees, Peng Lai offers a sense of the legends of Penglai both as a mountainous location as as being on an island, presenting as it does a small complex of buildings surrounded by the peaks of distant mountains as if the rocky islands on which they sit are themselves mountainous peaks, and as if they are built upon rafts of rock floating upon a sea of white cloud. Located within a Mainland parcel of just 2048 sq m, this is an elegant setting, small in size and with a sense of detail that is enticing.
Peng Lai, February 2025
Peng Lai is a fairyland above the clouds, where you can see ancient Chinese art and Taoist culture with architecture, furniture, paintings, decorations of China. You can relax, enjoy music, meditate … and have tea here.
– from the Penglai About Land description
The Landing Point sits as a a literally gateway which, although high in the clouds, is actually the lowest level, a wooden stairway climbing from it to give the impression of ascent further into the heavens, thus presenting the sense of rising into the realm of gods.
Peng Lai, February 2025
At the top of this stairway stands a great carved wheel of stone; a crossroads, if you will on the journey through the setting. To the left as one reaches the stone, a walkway and short set of steps rises to small single-roomed building wherein sits a small curtain-draped shrine facing the door and music and seating to the left and right. Facing this across the rounded stone, and reached via an angled walkway is an open-air railed platform where communal tea might be shared and trees bloom.
The stone wheel offers Tai Chi for up to four, whilst facing the gateway, a further stairway slopes gently upwards and outwards to where the largest island of rock floats serenely, water tumbling from one side to provide a backdrop to the tea platform. Here stands a grand building, a home to three side-by-side shrines awaiting prayers or meditation, as with the single shrine in the smaller building. Heavy drapes to either side of the shrines, together with lighter curtains help to divide the building into smaller spaces, although these are bereft of furniture, instead offering a shelter place where thoughts might be contemplated in silent pacing along the enclosed corridor.
Peng Lai, February 2025
With trees and shrubs clinging to the rocks to give them both a sense of life and the feeling they are linked – if invisibly – to the surrounding mountains of the enclosing sky sphere, presenting a sense of unity and space as well as that of location. This is further increased by the fact this is a veritable tour de force of work by Deo Rain, Polees’ SL partner.
Deo specialises in historical Chinese architecture, furnishings décor, and more, and Peng Lai really brings them together and to the fore as to how they might be combined to create a memorable setting, complete with elements from other creators specialising in pieces from the same eras (or close to them) helping to further entice and enhance. Further, those who have Autoplay enabled will be treated to a media track of suitable music playing periodically.
Peng Lai, February 2025
Beautifully presented and with the air of a modern take on a Chinese watercolour painting, Peng Lai is a highly engaging and picturesque visit (with one or two little nods towards the influence Penglai has had on Japanese legends), offering more than the small size of the parcel over which it sits might suggest.
