Cica Ghost’s latest installation, Visiting a Friend, opened today, once again inviting visitors into one of her wonderfully imaginative worlds.
As with many of her previous builds, the installation is introduced by a simple quotation:
“Good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you know they are there.”
It is a fitting introduction. This is a landscape that quietly celebrates friendship, inviting visitors to wander through a world where memory and imagination happily exist side by side.
Before setting off, be sure to select the shared environment. Cica often reminds visitors that her lighting is part of the artwork, and she is absolutely right. A soft blue sky stretches overhead, lightly veiled by haze, while bright yellow stars sparkle across it in cheerful defiance of daylight. From the very beginning, the familiar gives way to the whimsical.
Visiting a Friend: A Whimsical Coastline
Visiting a Friend feels rather like stepping into a childhood memory of a seaside holiday, one where imagination has quietly taken over. Water winds between grassy islands linked by weathered plank walkways, while steep chalky cliffs rise almost vertically from the landscape. Perched improbably on their summits are brightly coloured cottages, a lighthouse, boats, and in one corner, even a volcano. Somehow it all belongs together.
The first landmark to catch my eye was a wonderfully cheerful blue whale, resting comfortably in the shallow water with a tiny grassy island on its back, complete with a little red house, while a volcano rises dramatically behind its tail. A wooden walkway passes close beside it, making it quite impossible not to stop for a longer look.
This is not a photorealistic coastline. Cica has instead created a delightfully cartoon-like world whose exaggerated forms and impossible proportions invite visitors to leave reality behind and simply enjoy the exploring.
Scale, Creatures, and Hidden Surprises
One of the quiet pleasures of this installation is its play with scale. Near the walkway sits a frog which, from a distance, appears quite small — stand beside it, however, and it proves to be roughly the size of a small avatar. That simple shift in perspective makes the whale and the surrounding landscape feel even more enormous by comparison.
Cica Ghost’s Lighthouse: Watching Over It All
Elegant white storks wander through the grasses, and those willing to explore a little more carefully will be rewarded — Cica’s ‘Cute Spider’ and a charming little sea bunny are both here if you look. Brightly coloured balloons drift through the sky, each carrying a simple wooden log that visitors can ride, adding one more playful touch to a world already full of them.
Standing proudly among the grassy islands is a delightful white lighthouse, its red bands vivid against the blue sky. A ladder climbs toward the lantern room, while a small wooden boat waits quietly beside the shore. Around it, the steep white cliffs resemble giant sandcastles sculpted by an imaginative child; reinforcing the handcrafted, unhurried feeling that runs throughout the whole installation.
A Note on the Music
Everywhere you look there are thoughtful details, interesting textures, and small visual surprises waiting for those willing to wander without rushing.
I rarely listen to a region’s music stream when visiting — I usually prefer the quiet while I explore and take photographs. This time, however, a friend suggested I try Cica’s choice, and I am glad I did. The gentle soundtrack fits the atmosphere beautifully, and somehow makes the landscape feel even more welcoming. http://live.na2.lightmanstreams.com:9370/ The stream describes itself as “Music to Lift Your Spirit” — and visiting Visiting a Friend, I think that is exactly right.
Final Thoughts
Like so many of Cica Ghost’s installations, Visiting a Friend encourages visitors to slow down, explore, and smile at the unexpected. Whether it is the whale carrying its tiny house, the lighthouse overlooking the islands, or the quiet creatures hidden among the grasses, there is always another delightful discovery waiting just around the next corner.
Perhaps that is the quiet message behind the build. Good friends, like the stars above these little islands, may not always be close by — but somehow they are always there.
Useful Links
Cica’s Inworld Shop
Cica Ghost on Marketplace
Cica’s personal Flickr stream
Cica Ghost Flickr Group
Find all my latest posts about Cica Ghost here and the older ones here.
Exploring Second Life
If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog, Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.
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