Annarosa Kroyer Holm’s research for this project is focused on the alchemical production of the white gold or porcelain and its main substance, kaolin. In Travels in Iceland, a source of kaolin is mentioned in Mókollsdalur, in northwest Iceland. During her research, Annarosa travelled to the source along with other sites in the nearby area that are mentioned in Travels in Iceland, disclosing various clay sources. From the collective in Search of Porcelain as well as the farmer owning the land with kaolin, Holm learned that the site in Mókollsdalur was a location the Danish Royal Porcelain Factory studied as a potential source of kaolin, to be used in their production of porcelain. A ship with a large quantity of kaolin was shipped off but never reached its destination as the ship sank. The tradition of burning clay did not become prevalent in Iceland until in the 1930’s. The supply of porcelain and other utensils from burned clay were provided from the capital, Copenhagen. Kaolin and porcelain functions as a literal metaphor to witness colonialism through its material appearance and texture. More symbolically, porcelain has a history as an emblem of colonial narration, both with regards to the visual images portrayed on porcelain objects and as a non-porous vessel for colonial products such as tea, coffee and cocoa, sweetened with sugar.
Her installation presents a fractured archival presentation where she also examines the viewer’s role in witnessing her attempt of decolonizing history. The installation becomes a meta archival layout of her own personal and professional steps taken in such a process with her research in the IMMUNE project. The two porcelain globes or eyeballs made out of kaolin found in Mókollsdalur, Holm copied drawings made by astronomer Percival Lowell (1855-1916). Lowell presented these drawings in his publications in the late 19th century where he claimed that on Mars lived a higher civilization. Based on his own viewing and exploration taken via his telescope he claimed that he could see canals on the planet which he saw as proof that on Mars were elaborate irrigation systems, leading water from the polar ice caps to dryer areas. His hypothesis became debunked in 1964 when the Mariner spacecraft photographed Mars and no canals were to be found. Retired optometrist has since then claimed that most likely Lowell was viewing and witnessing the vein system at the back of his eye. In these drawings, Lowell peered long enough through a telescope for the vein system of the back of his eyes to be projected back. He believed he was witnessing the irrigation of water on Mars, rather than his own biology. Holm’s installation brings the concept of blindness which has been accompanied in recent decolonial discourse and addressment of Denmark’s colonial history and juxtaposes it with the human act of projection until reality is eventually addressed.