Graphic designed by Joe Locke
Photo Credit
In Extraordinary Contact, Alexandra McFarlane delves into the liminal space between belief and experience, exploring alien abduction narratives as a lens to examine trauma, memory, and the search for meaning. Anchored in her own childhood memory of a devastating house fire in Ōtautahi, the exhibition reflects on how extraordinary events shape our sense of self and reality.
McFarlane’s fascination with UFOs and the supernatural began young, fueled by books like Into the Unknown [1], which chronicled eerie phenomena including a UFO sighting in her hometown. McFarlane recalls the visceral thrill of terror, an ‘addiction’ to the uncanny that parallels the emotional intensity described by alien abductees. Yet, for many claimants, alien encounters are deeply traumatic, marked by fear, violation, and lasting scars.
Rather than seeking to verify or debunk these accounts, McFarlane investigates the personhood of those who believe in their abductions. Through a blend of personal narrative, archival material, and speculative storytelling, she asks: What happens when the extraordinary touches an ordinary life? Do these experiences provide solace, escape, or a deeper reckoning with unresolved trauma?
[1] Into the Unknown, Readers Digest; First Edition, 1981.
Opening Hours
- Wednesday - Friday, 11am - 6pm
- Saturdays, 11am - 4pm
Address
- 211 Left Bank
- Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington
In Extraordinary Contact, Alexandra McFarlane delves into the liminal space between belief and experience, exploring alien abduction narratives as a lens to examine trauma, memory, and the search for meaning. Anchored in her own childhood memory of a devastating house fire in Ōtautahi, the exhibition reflects on how extraordinary events shape our sense of self and reality.
McFarlane’s fascination with UFOs and the supernatural began young, fueled by books like Into the Unknown [1], which chronicled eerie phenomena including a UFO sighting in her hometown. McFarlane recalls the visceral thrill of terror, an ‘addiction’ to the uncanny that parallels the emotional intensity described by alien abductees. Yet, for many claimants, alien encounters are deeply traumatic, marked by fear, violation, and lasting scars.
Rather than seeking to verify or debunk these accounts, McFarlane investigates the personhood of those who believe in their abductions. Through a blend of personal narrative, archival material, and speculative storytelling, she asks: What happens when the extraordinary touches an ordinary life? Do these experiences provide solace, escape, or a deeper reckoning with unresolved trauma?
[1] Into the Unknown, Readers Digest; First Edition, 1981.
