The dissonant whispers of river Lethe reverberate here, 2026

ruumiinstallatsioon, söejoonistused, kineetiline skulptuur, litograafia, tsüanotüüpia

The river Lethe flows between the worlds of the living and the dead, through the cave of Hypnos – the abode of dreams and oblivion. ICU delirium is a frequent complication of severe illness, occurring in 25-50% of intensive care patients. It manifests as a loss of reality perception, confusion, hallucinations, paranoia, aggression or, conversely, withdrawal and unresponsiveness. Its onset is driven by severe physical illness, the effects of medication, and prolonged mechanical ventilation. It is aggravated by the unfamiliar environment, the constant noise and light of the intensive care unit, and the loss of circadian rhythm due to nocturnal interventions. The spatial installation “The dissonant whispers of river Lethe reverberate here” is an artistic translation of the ICU delirium experience. The drawings are based on fragments of hallucinations experienced by patients. Lithographic prints and hospital curtains intertwine into a foreign, disorienting pattern. A mechanical sculpture mirrors the machine’s intrusion into the vital functions of the human body A liminal state between dream and reality, where the unknown, helplessness, and fear take form in a world visible only to the one who endures it.