CELESTIUM
A Pantheon of 21st Century Gods.
CELESTIUM explores the question: What would the gods of the 21st century look like?
We would like to create a pantheon of modern gods projected onto gauze as holographic, larger than life characters which majestically float above visitors. The gods will be animated ethereal creatures with idiosyncratic manners, voices and cryptic monologues intended to encourage thinking about 21st century human values. Each god will represent a different cultural force that influences our current world.
Inspired by cross-cultural religious iconography and Greek mythology this group of modern day gods will look futuristic, communicate modern issues but follow traditional religious formulae.
The Pantheon could include the following gods but its ‘line up’ could also be conceived by writers, communities or other relevant voices. Each deity would be developed rigorously to create a coherent, meaningful and relatable but otherworldly character:
1. Arvandor - the Deity of Ambition: This deity represents the desire for success and achievement. It is worshipped by those who value ambition, hard work, and the pursuit of goals. However, it can also be seen as a negative force, encouraging people to prioritize personal success over the needs of others.
2. Omniscion - the Deity of Information: This deity represents the power and value of knowledge and information. It is worshipped by those who value education, research, and the ability to access and disseminate information. However, it can also be seen as a force of misinformation, enticing people to consume fake news and engage with subject matters on a superficial, simplistic level.
3. Joyvius - the Deity of Entertainment: This deity represents the importance of leisure and entertainment in modern society. It is worshipped by those who value pleasure, enjoyment, and the ability to escape from the pressures of everyday life. However, it can also be seen as a force of distraction, encouraging people to avoid confronting deeper issues and challenges.
4. Midasara - the Deity of Materialism: This deity represents the importance of comfort through material possessions and financial success. It is worshipped by those who value wealth, luxury, and status symbols as measures of success. However, it can also be seen as a force of greed, encouraging people to prioritize personal gain over the needs of others.
5. Concordia - the Deity of Community: This deity represents the importance of social connections and relationships. It is worshipped by those who value community, empathy, and the ability to form meaningful bonds with others. However, it can also be seen as a force of conformity and tribalism, encouraging people to prioritize groupthink over individualism.
6. Soterion - the Deity of Faith: This deity represents the power and value of religious and spiritual belief. It is worshipped by those who value faith, devotion, and the search for higher meaning and purpose. However, it can also be seen as a force of dogmatism, encouraging people to prioritize tradition over critical thinking.
7. Solitara - the Deity of Individualism: This deity represents the value of personal autonomy and freedom of choice. It is worshipped by those who prioritize individual rights and self-expression, and reject conformity or societal expectations. However, it can also be seen as a force of selfishness, egotism and narcissism, encouraging people to prioritize their own needs and desires over the needs of the larger community.
Deities all over the world are associated with various objects and symbols (e.g. lightning bolt for Zeus, sea trident for Poseidon etc.). We would adorn our deities with a similar array of divine paraphernalia that can be visually animated and interpreted through a modern mythology specifically written for this project..
Objects for the Deity of Individualism could include:
A bird in flight symbolizes personal freedom and autonomy, as it represents independence and the ability to soar above limitations.
A key symbolizes freedom of choice and personal autonomy, as it represents the power to open doors and make one's own decisions.
A compass symbolizes personal autonomy and freedom of choice, as it represents the ability to navigate one's own path and choose one's own direction. A crown could symbolize selfishness, as it represents a symbol of status and power that prioritizes individual gain over the needs of others.
A butterfly symbolizes personal transformation and self-expression, as it represents growth and change. A mirror symbolizes self-expression, as it reflects an individual's unique image and allows them to see themselves as they truly are.