Currently, I am finalizing about 20 new additions to my Pharmacopoeia series.
Mark Allen Soderstrom
CREATIVE PROJECTS
Pharmacopoeia, 2002 - present
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Modern pharmacopoeia is the result of countless generations of accumulated knowledge. Ancient apothecary formulas were often well-guarded secrets and no doubt many early remedies have been forever lost. In various cultures throughout history, often only incantations or rituals were prescribed as treatments for physical, psychological, and spiritual ailments. Sometimes orations or tasks are needed in conjunction with potions to render them active. In all cultures, superstitions and taboos guide and limit the realm of medicine.
These remedies are recreations of actual cures from various cultures at various times throughout human history ranging from the fringes of early world history to present-day America. Each relies to some extent on sympathetic and/or mimetic magic.
Each work is in an edition of three.
Anointing oil #B-99, 2004
Olive oil, Old Spice Shaving Lotion, bottle, label, tape
Bacteriostatic 0.5%, 2007
Household Dust: Vacuum cleaner dust, water, bottle, label, tape
Berlin Wall, 2008
Fragments of the Berlin Wall, alcohol, water, bottle, label, tape
Bituren, 2008
Diatomaceous earth, sulfate of copper, bottle label, tape
Bokorian, 2020
Cane toad, pufferfish, jimson weed, bottle, label, tape
Botract, 2004-07
Carbonized cancerous human remains, holly seeds, magnetic ore, bottle, label, tape
Cardall, 2020
Garlic, bottle, label, tape
Chryselectrum, 2020
Deadly nightshade, hemlock, henbane, wolfsbane, bottle label, tape
Ecatol, 2004
Colocynth, frankincense, sweet beer, bottle, label, tape
Effervel CY, 2005
Sargent's cypress, bottle, label, tape
Electrum Sucinum, 2020
Baltic amber, thread, cotton, steel, bottle, label, tape
Enduramide, 2020
Melissa Officinalis, potassium carbonate, water, bottle, label, tape
Ermitilax, 2020
Blessed wax candle, holy water, bottles, label, tape
Feingur, 2020
Inscribed dried cheese, wax, bottles, label, tape
Ferromax, 2008
Iron flecks, olive oil, bottles, label, tape
Hemostit, 2007
Brown paper, bottles, label, tape
Infaturol A/B, 2006
Druidic teas, printed recitations, bottles, label, tape
Lachryma Filia (East), 2008
Alcohol, distilled water, tears of a young girl, bottles, label, tape
Liquidambar Styracifula, 2003
American Sweetgum, bottles, label, tape
Mannatol, 2007
Post-um, bottles, label, tape
Mischepa Oil, 2020
Myrrh, fragrant cane, fragrant cinnamon, cassia, bottles, label, tape
6D Bright Nails, 2008
6D bright nails, bottles, label, tape
Paeonia Suffrticosa, 2008
Peony root, mat board, metal casing, polyvinyl bag, label, tape
Pheistic, 2004-07
Mallow, wine, vinegar, bottle, label, tape
Plasmonis, 2007
Fourth book of the Iliad by Homer, mat board, polyvinyl bag, label, tape
Polychrepine, 2021
Homeopathic poison nut, sucrose, bottle, label, tape
Polyvalent Serpenticide, 2020
Alcohol, slug, holy water, bottle, label, tape
Rugaquel, 2020
Elk hoof, bottle, label, tape
Sotahtropin, 2020
Bitterroot, consecrated water, parchment inscribed with the ineffable name of God, temple soil, bottle, label, tape
Succubin, 2006
Graveyard dirt, green paper, Valeriana Officinalis, bottle, label, tape
Supplocin, 2007
Monomorium Minimum, olive oil, bottle, label, tape
Tempratin, 2020
Burnt bees, olive oil, willow, bottle, label, tape
Tonsurnatio, 2020
Betonica Officinalis, water, bottle, label, tape
Verruphase, 2007
Great Northern Bean, bottle, label, tape
Vibrofife, 2007
Bay-berry root bark, brandy, cayenne, gum myrrh, lobelia, poplar bark, bottle, label, tape
Vigomax, 2007
Grape Nuts, bottle, label, tape
Walnut, 2007
Raw walnuts, bottle, label, tape
