Collateral Magic
2025 | Mother-in-Laws, curated by Elijah Wheat Showroom
Hudson, New York
“Collateral Magic“ is an interdisciplinary body of work aimed to provoke critical dialogue about the historical role of propaganda and illusion in shaping American reality.
The immersive installation conceptually revolves around my publication: “Collateral Magic, How the CIA Conjured Democracy” created in collaboration with writer Cara Marsh Sheffler. The book satirizes a mid-century how-to-magic book, detailing the history of the CIA as if it were magic tricks. Its inspiration stems from the very real “CIA Manual for Trickery and Deception,” an instructional field guide teaching operatives sleight-of-hand techniques, written by early television magician John Mullholland. Mulholland was recruited by the CIA at a time when The Agency was employing everything from LSD to magicians and psychics to gain Cold War advantage.
The exhibition features 6 lenticular prints alongside an animatronic fortune-telling machine that spits out psyop leaflets as “fortunes” and a series of satirical “Magic kits” expanding on “tricks” from the book. The space will be clad in floor-to-ceiling velvet curtains and a fog-drenched floor, to elicit the feeling of stepping inside a retro Zoltar fortune-telling arcade game.
Each lenticular print references a different aspect of stagecraft illusion: vanishing acts, sleight-of-hand, conjuring, mentalism, rope tricks, and creating an atmosphere of magic. A photographic image–where magician hands interact with stage props–is overlaid with collaged imagery of real-world propaganda related to each theme.
The exhibition explores performative “magic” as an aesthetic, material vocabulary and metaphor for how propaganda can deceive and manipulate the public.
Conjuring the Enemy
2025, 33in x 46in x 4in, lenticular print, nylon flocking, rabbits foot, set of 3 etched dominos, wood, plaster, magnets
One of 6 lenticular prints referencing different aspects of stagecraft illusion. “Conjuring the Enemy” references US historical justifications for war. Imagery depicts a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat but depending on the viewing angle, shifts the traditional top hat with a Soviet ushanka, VietCong nóndang or Saddam Hussain’s beret, overlaid with Red Scare propaganda and government officials justifying various US invasions. The frame features 2 secret compartments containing a rabbit's foot and set of 3 dominoes engraved with words “Laos,” “Cambodia” and “Vietnam”.
Sleight of Hand
2025, 33in x 46in x 4in, lenticular print, nylon flocking, matchbook from Hotel Fontianblue’s Boom Boom Room, loaded dice, wood, plaster, magnets
“Sleight of Hand” references hand-in-glove collusion and backdoor deals between the US government and corporate interests. Imagery depicts a magician playing 3 Card Monte but, depending on the viewing angle, shifts to reveal images of: arms dealers; Italian mobsters on the CIA payroll; various US-backed narco-trafficking rebel groups; and US-backed dictators enjoying themselves. The frame features 2 secret compartments containing a set of loaded dice and matchbook from Hotel Fontianblue’s Boom Boom Room.
Atmosphere of Magic
2025, 33in x 46in x 4in, lenticular print, nylon flocking, 4th of July-themed mini beanie baby McDonalds toy, glitter-filled pill, wood, plaster, magnets
“Atmosphere of Magic” references patriotism / consumerism as American illusion. Image shifts from objects associated with sexy spy-craft to images of classic Americana: Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, Playboy bunnies, Mickey Mouse as Uncle Sam, Marlboro cowboy, moon landing and refrigerator advertisements. Frame features secret compartments containing patriotic beanie baby McDonalds toy and glitter-filled pill.
Mentalism
2025, 33in x 46in x 4in, lenticular print, nylon flocking, US PSYOP Leaflet from Afghanistan, “Voice of America postage stamp, wood, plaster, magnets
“Mentalism” references CIA’s media influence. Image shifts from psychic’s hands conjuring a TV to images of USIA propaganda posters, CIA-consulted spy films, and Jennifer Garner playing her ALIAS character for an actual CIA onboarding video. Frame features secret compartments containing a US PSYOP Leaflet from Afghanistan and “Voice of America” stamp.
PSYOP Psychic Machine"
2025, 24in x 72in x 24in, printed cards, animatronic plastic hands with sound sensor, LED crystal ball, LED strips, velvet, fringe trim, mirrored vinyl, acrylic, wood, various hardware
“PSYOP Psychic Machine" is an animatronic fortune-telling machine that spits out US PSYOP leaflets as “fortunes.” The fortune cards feature images of 24 real leaflets that were dropped over enemy territory from the Korean War through the War on Terror, alongside translated leaflet text and the leaflet’s official numerical code as ‘lucky numbers.’ Animatronic hands and a glowing LED crystal ball activate through sound and light, while a knob turns an internal analog mechanism to dispense cards.
Ropes, Scarves and Ties That Bind
2025, 33in x 46in x 4in, lenticular print, nylon flocking, “earth” glass marble, pressed penny from Disney’s “It’s a Small World,” wood, plaster, magnets
“Ropes, Scarves and Ties That Bind” references soft diplomacy as means of control. Image shifts from a magician pulling scarves (printed with NATO nations flags) from assistant's mouth to images of Peace Corps erotic novels, Fulbright and USAID posters. Frame features secret compartments containing a glass marble and pressed penny from Disney’s “It’s a Small World. Souvenir
Vanishing Acts
2025, 33in x 46in x 4in, lenticular print, nylon flocking, engraved bullet casing, School of the Americas instructor's pin, wood, plaster, magnets
“Vanishing Acts” references the CIA practice of disappearing enemies. The lenticular image shifts from a magician’s trick chair to a collage of images from Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay, CIA black sites detention and torture centers as part of Operation Condor and political leaders assassinated by the US. The frame features two secret compartments containing an engraved bullet casing with names of leaders assassinated by the US and an authentic instructors enamel pin from School of the Americas.
Collateral Magic
2025, 5.5in x 7in, 60 page perfect-bound off-set print book, open edition
“Collateral Magic: How the CIA Conjured Democracy from the Cold War to the Forever Wars,” is an ¡AGITPOP! Press publication created in collaboration with writer Cara Marsh Sheffler. It satirizes a mid-century how-to amateur magician’s book, detailing the history of the CIA as if it were a series of tricks. Inspired by magician John Mulholland’s very real “CIA Manual for Trickery and Deception” (declassified in 1977), our book is a speculative analysis of magic in the field, tips and tricks on maintaining the illusion of democracy, and a friendly reminder that one cannot spell magician without C-I-A.