Emotional, surreal and funny. The creations of Toba Toba are a trip to a fantastic universe where time and space give way to illusion and wonder. Visionaries, dreamers and eclectic, they create parallel worlds made of fluorescent sceneries, iridescent colorful flora and curious characters with strange powers. Transversally creative, Amelia Eguia and Julian Mantel do not get along with categories and apply their own oneiric fantasy on different art levels in the form of objects, installations and short films.
Micol Passariello, D – la Repubblica
The Toba Toba group was created in 2006 by Amelia Eguia and Julian Mantel, from Buenos Aires, Argentina. They currently live and work in Milan.
Planet Umbi is found in a corner of the Toba galaxy. In different periods, the projection of light reaches half of its intensity. This cycle is repeated once every three months due to an eclipse of the Napur star. The identity of the object to which the eclipse is due remains unknown. During this period, in the first hours of darkness, some species continue emanating light. It is said that the first formations of life come from the Nandy region towards the middle latitudes of the boreal hemisphere, where strange phenomena take place during the different seasons. In this region there is as well Mount Anga where the yellow river, known for its healing qualities, is born. In the opposite part lies a zone called the impenetrable, so called because of the legends that are told about it. Many species feel attracted to uncover its mysteries but till now nobody has been able to tell them.
It is the season of fog. During this period particular phenomena develop. In determinate places of the Nandy region, steam accumulates and personifies in plants which characteristic is that of deviating light and projecting mirages. When this happens, an unalterable and eternal serenity reign.
It is the hot season in which the species migrate guided by their orientation like herb by the wind and they start new voyages. Many species go into the waters of the yellow river which gives them greatly beneficient energy.
It is the period of renovation and the time for the celebration of fertility. Days are longer and water flows uninterruptedly. It is the time of abundance when different species procreate.
It is the season of transfiguration. It is a dark period of dense clouds. White reflections bounce in a certain way on this darkness revealing an ambiguous universe where shadow and light are confused in the crepuscular horizon and they spread a pale light in the penumbra atmosphere. The forms reveal their own nature. The apprentice is dominated by the thirst of knowledge and takes his initiation voyage to the region of shadows. Those who cannot achieve it, do not come back.
The Jumbis lived for a long time in the Nandy region until a long drought forced them to leave. They discovered their incandescence on the first eclipse in the band of twililght. At first, they believed it was just a luminous effect, but later they found out that for as long as this phenomenon continued, their perception was sharpened. This way they can understand the illusions of those who are nearby.
The Nutus have the quality of being oracles. They communicate through the spheres that they have on their heads. When the opportunity to be consulted is conceded, they show halos of colour around the sphere. Sometimes, in the Umbi sky, luminous traces are seen. They are the Nutus who are travelling. When a Nutu is nearby, what is about to come is felt in the atmosphere.
