Missing man was an astral traveller

Members of the Astral Way Society are baffled.

Artspace's new show Sleepwalker is an exhibition that allows art to play in the often off-limit areas of fiction and theatricality.

A mysterious thread of absence runs through the exhibition, which includes Fitts & Holderness (NZ), Aernout Mik (the Netherlands), Daniel Roth (Germany), Marnie Slater (NZ) and Clemens von Wedemeyer (Germany).

The most baffling mystery of all, however, is the absence of Harold Sutherland, an importer who rents office space from Artspace and has not been seen since Sleepwalker opened on April 28.

"We were all so busy at that time, preparing the exhibition," says exhibition curator Tessa Giblin of Sutherland's uncharacteristic departure.

"He keeps pretty much to himself, and sometimes he will be gone for days at a time. You get used to his comings and goings and, after a while, you don't pay much attention to him.

"He was doing really long hours - staying after we left and always there when we arrived in the morning. A few days before he left I did notice he was making secret phone calls in a hushed voice, but assumed that was just because we had so many volunteers and tradespeople around. Then he was suddenly just gone."

Bizarrely, a quick glance into Sutherland's office reveals a heavy involvement in the Astral Way, a secretive occult group interested in out-of-body experiences through lucid dreaming.

"We had no idea Harold was an astral traveller," says Giblin. "This Astral Way Society has only surfaced since he departed so suddenly.

"There have been many strange people coming to his office and snooping around. Sometimes we feel as though we should stop them, but they tell us they are part of the Astral Way Society and they are concerned for Harold, so it seems unfair to stop them."

Sutherland was the chairman of this organisation and in an email sent to members on May 4 he spoke of researching Noh theatre in Japan. This was the last known communication from Sutherland, who was due back in Auckland just over a week ago to attend an Astral Way social function.

In an email to Astral Way member Hinemoa Ngati, Sutherland mentioned meeting former member Sukiawa Yamaguchi and giving her a large amount of cash to help with the research. Other members have expressed concern over Yamaguchi's apparent Yakuza connections.

Astral Way member Lemba Donaldson, who often does Sutherland's word-processing, confirms he was investigating Japanese slumber rooms. "He was interested in how spaces we sleep in may affect our red-eye-movement, the period of time we dream in our sleep," she says.

"He went to Japan to visit a historical imperial villa, and slept in a room supposedly used by Princess Hanako in her famous astral voyages, which took her into the 21st century. She was apparently used by the military as a specialist spy in relations with China.

"Sukiawa Yamaguchi, who was a member of the society three years ago when she lived in Auckland, was a Gatekeeper to the Higher Astral society of Japan Unagi-ko, one of the most powerful organisations that exists in the world today."

Sutherland did not turn up for the Astral Way function, in which around 20 members met in the Britomart train station dressed in 1920s costumes before proceeding to the former Kiwi Tavern.

At the function, Ashley Fowler, a business colleague of Sutherland's who shares his interest in astral travelling, revealed that Sutherland had been secretly seeing a young Japanese girl and had been distressed at her recent disappearance.

Despite their apparent belief in spirituality, trust does not seem to be a major factor among members of the Astral Way. Simon Simpson suspects Sutherland did not even leave for Japan and is sure he saw him in Titirangi, while Donaldson finds most of Sutherland's claims hard to believe, likening them to something out of The Da Vinci Code.

Ngati, now acting chairperson of the Astral Way, says Fowler's claims about Sutherland's romantic liaisons are only to draw attention away from himself. Another member accused Fowler of dodgy dealings and drawing Sutherland into dubious business.

The biggest surprise of the night, aside from the bizarre ritualistic entertainment and food served by costumed staff dressed as geishas, Japanese schoolgirls or futuristic fashionistas, was when new member Ronald Baum revealed he was actually Tony Mendez, a writer who had just completed a book he says "exposes the society for the frauds that they are".

Ngati says Sutherland's disappearance has been traumatic for the group, resulting in conflicting loyalties and theories on what has happened to him.

Several members believe Sutherland wanted to sever his silver cord (an umbilical-like connection between the physical and spiritual body), apparently a risky feat for astral travellers, and that he may now be trapped in the astral realm. Juliette Navarre claims to have dreamed of Sutherland's cord snapping and him dying.

Sutherland often quotes 1929 book The Projection of the Astral Body by Sylvan Muldoon and Hereward Carrington in Astral Way literature. A seminal text for astral travel, it speaks of freeing the spirit to travel beyond the cord's range.

The evening ended when a man arrived, claiming to be the building's owner, and evicted the whole group.

If Sutherland does not turn up within four weeks, Artspace will have to terminate his tenancy. People who may know more about this enigmatic figure can contact the Astral Way c/- Artspace. 

Exhibition

* What: Sleepwalker
*Where and when: Artspace, 300 K Rd, to Jun 4