ALMOST THERE ‘Amidst it all, the human spirit continues to reach for hope—not just outward, but inward. The dream of escape is not simply about fleeing, but about the longing to rise above emotional weight: anxiety, disconnection, grief. Fantasies of levitation, flying, and floating become expressions of an inner wish to transcend heaviness and to feel, even briefly, the lightness of joy, presence, and belonging.’

Premiered at UNBOUND, the curated exhibition during UNSEEN 2023.The installation was presented by Gallery Caroline O’Breen.

ALMOST THERE

With her film installation ***Almost There*** Tara Fallaux investigates the interaction between 2- and 3 dimensional realms, merging a cinematic analogue special effect from early 1900 theatre and visuals inspired by early cinema in newly created backgrounds. In her experiment the old optical illusion is transported to the present, using photography, film, photo backgrounds and a mirror.

A central element of the installation is the portrayal of a filmed, floating female body. Positioned within an age-old theatrical device, the floating figure conjures the illusion of a hologram, achieved through the Pepper’s Ghost technique of reflection. Inspired by historical female mystics such as Teresa de Ávila and Christina the Astonishing, who were believed to possess the ability to fly or levitate, the work celebrates the transcendence of earthly boundaries. Beyond its technical and aesthetic layers, Almost There explores the fluidity between the tangible and the intangible, delving into the space between physical constraints, inner pressures, and mental elevation.

Artist Statement
The installation serves a dual purpose—both personal and socio-political.

After the sudden, self-chosen death of my father’s beloved partner, my life felt quite literally turned upside down. She could no longer find a way out of the tangled webs of her dark thoughts. Life had become too heavy to bear. This devastating experience led me to reflect—both philosophically and artistically—on the notions of escapism and weightlessness. A longing for freedom without weight. Yet at the same time, a sense of being suspended in limbo.

In observing today’s society, it’s clear that an increasing number of young people struggle with depression. This is intensified by the overwhelming pressure to make the ‘perfect’ life choices, constant performance stress, and broader systemic issues—such as work insecurity, housing shortages, and a growing sense of rootlessness. Meanwhile, structural support for mental health continues to decline.

The near impossibility of true escape fuels a timeless desire for transcendence—for salvation from the weight of the world through magic, the supernatural, or the inexplicable. The dream of levitation, of floating free from earthly constraints, reflects this deeply human urge to rise above it all—to feel, even briefly, the lightness of being.

For the accompanying soundscape Tara collaborated with musician Sterre Konijn. They worked with the theme of air and references to the early cinema era. Sterre composed a soundtrack mainly using her own voice and whispers together with the sound of the Theremin. The Theremin, invented in 1920, is an electronic musical instrument controlled without physical contact by the performer. It is played in the air. It is the only instrument in the world that can be played without needing to be touched. The magnetic field is changed by the varying distances between the two hands.

Crew:
Floating woman: Belle Hannah Kok
Music: Sterre Konijn
Soundmix: Mark Schilders
Technical: Diderik Evers, Christian Paulussen, Kenny Nagelkerke

Editing: Thomas Vroege
Support production design: Elsje de Bruijn
Advice optical illusion: Woedy Woet