This project is still a work in progress

Shortlisted at 2024 Athens Photo Festival Dummy Awards

There Is No Death

There Is No Death looks at the process of finding answers and meaning within new age spirituality and religion, examining how this search can make people susceptible to misinformation. The spiritual movement of Theosophy, established in 1875, amalgamates esoteric concepts from various religions, including hidden masters, cosmic cycles, and direct communication with divine beings. It seeks to reappropriate elements from diverse belief systems while promoting the interconnectedness of all life forms, spiritual evolution, and the notion of karma and reincarnation, inviting both curiosity and skepticism from observers who argue that Theosophy appropriates elements from various cultural and religious traditions without proper understanding or respect for their original contexts.

Critics and skeptics have accused the Theosophy co-founder, Helena Blavatsky, of deception and fraud during her lifetime, particularly regarding the alleged supernatural phenomena associated with her and the authenticity of some of her claims, but regardless of the accusations Theosophy found a base following and permeated the minds of many in positions of influence such as Dutch painter Piet Mondrian, filmmaker George Lucas, and Anthroposophy founder Rudolf Steiner.

The book weaves three books into one, combining contemporary photography, Hi8 video stills, and VHS tape footage. The work transitions from clarity to abstraction across three sections - learning, death, and belief - reflecting how deepening conviction can paradoxically lead to diminished perception. Two additional books are bound within: a reimagined version of Codd's "The Mystery of Life and How Theosophy Answers It" featuring tantra video stills, and "Astrological Signatures," printed in negative on black with carefully selected text and portrait stills from vintage adult films. The physical form of the book, with its changing orientations and nested volumes, mirrors the journey of falling into belief systems.