LEAMSI
ETHEREAL DOMINION
About the project
My project explores themes of oppression, fear, and control through cult-like imagery. Drawing on symbols reminiscent of the Ku Klux Klan and mystical rituals, I critique how ideologies can suppress individuality and freedom. These unsettling visuals provoke reflection on a symbolic "death"—not physical, but the loss of autonomy and authenticity imposed by systems of power.
My project explores themes of oppression, fear, and control through cult-inspired imagery. Using visuals that evoke figures and symbols reminiscent of groups like the Ku Klux Klan and mystical rituals, I aim to challenge how certain ideologies and belief systems can suppress individuality and personal freedom. This choice of visual language is intentional; the use of unsettling and, at times, sinister elements is meant to provoke reflection on how these systems often impose a type of symbolic "death," stripping away authentic aspects of the self.
The parallel with the Ku Klux Klan and other symbols of control and repression is not to glorify or promote these elements but rather to emphasize their psychological and societal power. By using these symbols in an abstract and decontextualized manner, I examine how an environment of fear and submission is created, compelling individuals to relinquish essential parts of their identity. This project invites viewers to question the power that these images hold in shaping our understanding of both life and death, as well as how ideologies can distort our perception of both.
One of the central themes is the prejudice toward death—not only in the literal sense but also in its symbolic aspect. Here, death is interpreted as a loss of autonomy and personal agency, something that doesn't necessarily mean physical cessation but a way of existing as "alive but dead." The figures and rituals depicted allude to this symbolic death, which occurs when society or systems of power impose rigid norms that suffocate personal authenticity. My intention is to question to what extent fear of death, in all its forms, can be manipulated to maintain control over individuals and communities.
My project explores themes of oppression, fear, and control through cult-inspired imagery. Using visuals that evoke figures and symbols reminiscent of groups like the Ku Klux Klan and mystical rituals, I aim to challenge how certain ideologies and belief systems can suppress individuality and personal freedom. This choice of visual language is intentional; the use of unsettling and, at times, sinister elements is meant to provoke reflection on how these systems often impose a type of symbolic "death," stripping away authentic aspects of the self.
The parallel with the Ku Klux Klan and other symbols of control and repression is not to glorify or promote these elements but rather to emphasize their psychological and societal power. By using these symbols in an abstract and decontextualized manner, I examine how an environment of fear and submission is created, compelling individuals to relinquish essential parts of their identity. This project invites viewers to question the power that these images hold in shaping our understanding of both life and death, as well as how ideologies can distort our perception of both.
One of the central themes is the prejudice toward death—not only in the literal sense but also in its symbolic aspect. Here, death is interpreted as a loss of autonomy and personal agency, something that doesn't necessarily mean physical cessation but a way of existing as "alive but dead." The figures and rituals depicted allude to this symbolic death, which occurs when society or systems of power impose rigid norms that suffocate personal authenticity. My intention is to question to what extent fear of death, in all its forms, can be manipulated to maintain control over individuals and communities.
About the artist
Name: LEAMSI
Born — Location: Chile - Spain
I’m Ismael Larraín, a Chilean photographer who moved to Barcelona two years ago to grow in what I’m most passionate about: commercial and fashion photography. Moving here wasn’t easy; building connections from scratch, adapting to a new culture, and finding my place in such a competitive creative industry has been a real challenge.
This journey has helped me grow not only as a professional but also as a person. I’ve worked on projects that blend technical and artistic approaches, always exploring my vision and connecting with new perspectives. Now, with a broader outlook and my roots always present, I’m ready to take this learning into my next steps.
Death, to me, is both an end and a transformation. Through my work, I explore how the concept of death is not only about loss but also about transition, memory, and resilience. In the context of my project, it reflects the emotional and cultural layers of migration, where leaving a place behind feels like a kind of death, yet it opens the door to reinvention and adaptation. Death is a constant reminder of the fragility and the strength that coexist in human experiences, shaping our identities in unexpected ways.
Born — Location: Chile - Spain
I’m Ismael Larraín, a Chilean photographer who moved to Barcelona two years ago to grow in what I’m most passionate about: commercial and fashion photography. Moving here wasn’t easy; building connections from scratch, adapting to a new culture, and finding my place in such a competitive creative industry has been a real challenge.
This journey has helped me grow not only as a professional but also as a person. I’ve worked on projects that blend technical and artistic approaches, always exploring my vision and connecting with new perspectives. Now, with a broader outlook and my roots always present, I’m ready to take this learning into my next steps.
Death, to me, is both an end and a transformation. Through my work, I explore how the concept of death is not only about loss but also about transition, memory, and resilience. In the context of my project, it reflects the emotional and cultural layers of migration, where leaving a place behind feels like a kind of death, yet it opens the door to reinvention and adaptation. Death is a constant reminder of the fragility and the strength that coexist in human experiences, shaping our identities in unexpected ways.