Eugenia Loli’s collages remind me very much of psychedelic exploration. The canny juxtapositions, spacey visuals, and surreal portraits of humanity all speak directly to my subconscious, which loves to throw around this kind of imagery when I’m dreaming or in a mystical state.

These psychedelic qualities are no accident. In the artist’s words:

I’m intrigued by DMT’s ability to make people more spiritual, and bring them closer to their true nature and potential. Some of my art tries to capture just that, rather than simply describe a trip. I’m not into making representational art, so I capture the revelations behind all the astonishing visuals.

Here’s a more recent piece, titled Lucy and DiMiTri. Eugenia offers a description:

The sky is empty and the land is bare. There’s nothing for us there. But there’s a roadway. The key to discover ourselves, and the universe at large, all which is within us. Mind the shadows though.

Another work is called Three Minutes to Nirvana.

Eugenia describes the piece:

The structure represents all that we can comprehend while in our human form. It’s also what keeps us within boundaries, limiting our existence, experience and understanding. The bottom level is about developing, learning, and trying out various routes. In the process, and among progress, there’s also war and misery (as evident by the fire in the background). The cube in the field is the teaser of the ultimate prize, placed in by the people on the top level (the “Ascended”). The second level is about expanding our horizons further, making the leap towards an enlightened state . Notice the woman in black, ready to make the leap. The man in the staircase, calls her, trying to keep her back, but it’s too late. She has superseded him. She is intrigued by the possibilities. The man also signifies the various forces that will try to keep humanity back on its journey. Notice that the observable universe is also within the boundaries of the structure. Two humans are attempting to reach the third level. One is climbing the old fashioned way, and the other one is using (transhuman) technology to get there — both choices are acceptable. At the end of their journey, they won’t be “humans” anymore anyway. Notice the trophy award in the middle of the third level, right below the angels painting. These two people think that this is the ultimate prize. But that’s just a trap. The third level is the most difficult level towards reaching ascendance, because humans will have to leave behind all their vices, delusions, and personal limitations. Most never manage to do that. Their only enemy in this level is themselves. Notice the human skull, hidden by the flying spaghetti monster-like flower. At the very top, the Ascended people are waiting for more people to make it to the top. In the whole artwork, they are the only element depicted outside of the structure, able to see the bigger picture. They’re beyond time and space. Notice the planet above their heads, alluding that there may be more levels. Knowledge and wisdom have no limits. There’s always something more to explore, know and live.

A second collage elaborating the theme of “Three Minutes to Nirvana” is Minute Two, below.

You can see more of Eugenia’s work on her Tumblr, Flickr, and Cargo galleries. She offers many images in high-resolution for free, but you can also buy prints. Here are a couple more of her collages that I love.