Hayley Millar Baker
The Umbra

The Umbra casts an ethereal light on the witching hour, that paranormal time when the veil between the physical and spiritual realms is at its thinnest and supernatural activity is heightened. It follows the astral journey of a young woman and a fledgling spirit, both taking bodily form, as they converge in the enigmatic ‘in-between’—a realm that exists alongside, mirroring, yet distinct from our tangible world. Here, the boundaries of life, death, and the afterlife blur. As consciousness and form transition into this state, The Umbra reveals the unbroken connection and dialogue between these realms, intertwining the living and the ethereal into a shared space.

As the young woman and the fledgling spirit navigate the dimly lit corridors of the house, they move with an unsettled grace, their steps hesitant yet determined. Unaware and unpractised in astral projection, they are guided only by instinct and a shared sense of curiosity. Though unsettled, neither girl shows signs of fear; instead, they exchange glances filled with apprehension and curiosity, their movements synchronising as they draw closer, as if pulled together by one another.

The Umbra examines non-linear time and space, and the intricately entwined temporal slippages proposed within the ‘everywhere and everywhen’ theoretical constructs. This interdisciplinary approach defies conventional genre boundaries, providing a nuanced contemplation of the very essence of existence.

Credits

Artist: Hayley Millar Barker

Commissioned by RISING: Melbourne for Shadow Spirit, an exhibition curated by Kimberley Moulton and produced by RISING: Melbourne. Co-commissioned by Illuminate Adelaide.