Alyse Stone

The Black Alchemishpere, is a 10-chapter time-parallel fictional universe, driven by historical futurism: a method to reclaim Black Freedom through virtual and physical storytelling.

The introductory chapter of the project is presented in several locations as a walkable journey in London in July 2023. The beginning of this universe explores robotics, machine learning-driven paintings, material evolutionary sculptures, immersive installation, and performance.

Stone constructs her detailed universe of Black Alchemy and auto-theoretical science fiction to immerse the viewer into a universe where Black Women are the main characters, and history is re-imagined. In this realm of time travel, the main character, Selika Laveski (the alias of an actual historical figure) discovers the deep well of her powers and the unlimited possibilities.

The three exhibition spaces are designed to function as the various acts/chapters: The Waiting Room, teleports the audience into Stone’s re-imagined reality. A short walk away, The Black Alchemist Boudoir includes: Dark Matter, embracing the viewer in an oasis of new cosmic materiality, and The Portal, a painting installation with a VR experience. The last space, The Origin Story, is a multi-channel film installation with an evening performance featuring Stone.

Crafted and developed by Stone for the past three years, the project culminates in the book, The Origins of The Black Alchemishpere, which will be released in 2024 and accompanies the installation work. In addition, she was awarded Distinction on her dissertation, Engineering a New World Order: an Afrofuturist’s Critique on the Contemporary Divide which delves into her methodology and research. Alyse aims to teleport her viewers with art, in addition to innovating and re-imagining data-driven storytelling.

Enter the Black Alchemisphere

Ensorcels: the Black Alchemists

Reborn a Black Alchemist, each woman traverses the corridors of time. A carbon copy of the lantern of her soul becomes the steadfast anchor for her and the transformative journey that lies ahead. The mixed media composition showcases archival images, alongside genuine alchemical texts sourced from Stone's meticulous research.

Within this Black Alchemical Universe, the central characters engage with numerous historical figures, breathing life into encounters that transcend the boundaries of reality. Fiction gracefully weaves itself into the narrative, seamlessly bridging the gaps for conversations, interactions, and the retelling of speculative histories, all with the intent of reshaping the trajectory of contemporary discourse.

The archives swiftly emerge as a cornerstone of this artistic methodology. However, they often bear the weight of incompleteness, with forgotten tales or unrecoverable remnants. Within every step of the process, gaps persist, as eloquently expressed by Ines Ponte, who regards archives as "structured repositories whose dynamics rely on the archivist," thereby introducing the possibility of human fallibility in the preservation of history. The culmination of this three-year research initiative presents an idea: a methodology and a visual practice that both scrutinize and establish a sacred space wherein new possibilities can emerge for Black women, both in the present and the future.

An ongoing series of about 10 pieces. To see more works and explore acquiring a piece, please visit this collector's link. Password: stonestudiosvip

Unlocking the gateway requires an intricate cipher, an entryway into a realm where equilibrium is disrupted, paving the way for a collective sojourn. Within this passage, Stone prepares the viewer for an immersive plunge into her universe—a realm interwoven with threads of history, science, and the audacious notion of traversing time itself. Here, the boundaries blur between enchantment and technological fusion, offering a conduit to delve into the depths of inner exploration and unearth the mysteries that unfold within.

Stone aspires for her audience to be enveloped in the very essence of dark matter, immersing them within its depths. Through her ongoing series of 15+ paintings, she redefines the notion of materiality within her cosmic universe. In the creation of these artworks, Stone articulates how the matter seemingly transcends the confines of the canvas, effortlessly leaping into existence. Within this celestial realm, the infinite expanse of obsidian black emerges as a resolute and commanding hue, symbolizing ancestral energy, strength, and liberation.

To see more works and explore acquiring a piece, please visit this collector's link. Password: stonestudiosvip

One specimen from a series comprising more than 20 Dark Matter organisms.

Within the second chapter of Stone's expansive universe, Selika finds herself amidst a desert landscape, but not on her own familiar planet. Within this alternate time dimension, the Dark Matter entities assume a stature surpassing mere corporeal existence. It is here that Selika comprehends the profound truth—that this primordial ancestral energy has been guiding her throughout her journey. Rendering in virtual reality, Stone immortalizes the data sourced from her digital realm, transposing it into tangible form.

These forms, evoking a sense of biological essence, manifest within the ethereal layers of space and time. Microbes of cosmic significance. Ancestral energy pulsating through the membranes of the universe's cells. And at the utmost boundary, an almost diminutive congregation of nano-biological particles.

This matter underwent a transformative black alchemy at the beginning of time, when the original being time walked. The very essence of herself, an ancient sacred being, interweaving with the fabric of time and space, eternally entwined yet transcendent.

Labyrinth, an ongoing series of 10 works, encapsulates a captivating series of Stone's abstract renderings that delve into the enigmatic realm of Dark Matter—the primordial energy that serves as a guiding force for the protagonists throughout their odyssey. Within these intricate compositions, Stone masterfully weaves together alienesque entities, which emanate an ethereal quality, evoking an otherworldly allure. Rooted in her background as an engineer, Stone draws upon her meticulous examination of product architecture, specifically the sinuous contours that define their surfaces.

These clay formations, while abstract in nature, exude an intriguing lack of symmetry, assuming an almost extraterrestrial corporeality. They arise from a harmonious amalgamation of interconnected curves, meticulously woven together in an organic, spontaneous manner. While Stone's discerning eye dissects the curvature and architectural elements, she humbly surrenders to the clay's innate essence, allowing it to dictate the course of its own creation.

Labyrinth symbolizes the profound interplay between Stone's analytical prowess and the intuitive conversations she engages in with her chosen medium. The series harmoniously merges the precision of engineering with the untamed allure of clay, resulting in a body of work that invites viewers to explore the enigmatic depths of existence itself.

To see more works and explore acquiring a piece, please visit this collector's link. Password: stonestudiosvip

An ongoing series comprised of almost 10 works. Within the expanse of a mural-sized sculptural painting, a tapestry unfolds, seamlessly intertwining with Stone's Black Alchemical universe. It serves as a testament to our ongoing exploration of collective histories, both as a community and as a people within the present timeline. As we delve deeper into the land we inhabit and the future we endeavor to construct upon it, this artwork becomes a gateway to unearthing hidden truths and narratives.

In this abstract landscape, where sculpture seamlessly transitions into painting, a terrain emerges—a topography of interconnected data points. We embark on a quest to unravel the multifaceted layers of truth and stories that lie dormant. Each brushstroke and sculpted form becomes a guiding marker, illuminating the path towards a deeper understanding of our shared heritage.

As we navigate this expanse, we are beckoned to embrace the revelation of these concealed truths, to breathe life into forgotten tales, and to forge new connections within the ever-evolving tapestry of human existence. This painting and series serve as a vessel, melding artistry and exploration, empowering us to embark on a transformative journey towards collective growth.

In the Beginning, There was Alchemy

It started with Black Alchemy

Black intellectualism.

Black prestige.

The birth of ancestral magic

The birth of time

They walked through the timelines appearing in plain sight.

The archives speak of their wonder.

A force took her over... A whispering...

There was something waiting for her.

Looming, evading,

Ever present, and always watching.

Its darkness was warm, inviting, and wise.

She beckoned to “it”

The “it” a curiosity and longing she could not quite describe.

It was a door. An invitation.

A portal to another world, another life

Another understanding of this universe.

This Private Gallery next to the American Embassy was the site for two intro chapters of Stone’s Black Alchemisphere. The 360 gallery walk through features the first chapter titled, A Portal to the World, which teleports the audience and introduces this new universe. The second introductory chapter titled, Dark Matter, leaves the viewer in an oasis of new cosmic materiality. The installation is comprised of over 10 paintings, 13 sculptures, video installation, as well as mixed media works, and works made using virtual reality.

To explore acquiring a piece from the exhibition, please visit this collector's link. Password: stonestudiosvip