Abyssal Tarot
Shelly Corbett, Artist
Stephen Ahlbom, Designer
One would imagine that if an artist, working in the photographic medium, created a unique set of
tarot-related images in a technique never used in any tarot deck before and when a recognized graphic
designer, well versed in the world of tarot and in printing, conceptualized the artist's images into an
exclusive artistic tarot deck and they additionally found a way to finance the costly printing themselves,
then the world would soon see a new and different tarot deck.
It should, however, not be so, because this took place in the USA. Not in one of the Mid-Western bible belt
states, where anything dealing with tarot and similarly obscure things is not viewed with open eyes. It took
place in the state of Washington; otherwise perhaps best known to the outside world for being the home state
of the big computer industries which, I guess, can not be accused of being medieval in nature. To complete
the picture, the same area is also known for being a center for USA's huge commercial production of hard core
pornography. When it came to having a tarot deck printed, it proved that medieval fundamentalism was the
reigning force even there.
This deck has essentially been in the works for years. Twelve years ago, the artist Shelly Corbett took up a
new trend in her art, namely underwater photography, which she developed to a specialty. A friend of hers,
graphic designer and ardent tarot collector Stephen Ahlbom, saw tarot qualities in many of her images and in
1996 he created the web-site "Abyssal Tarot", to present part of Corbett's work within a tarot frame. Already
came the US-fundamentalism, since the so-called "Communications Decency Act" had just been passed and
web hosts were hesitating to give server space for what narrow-minded fundamentalists called "Adult Content".
In the beginning the efforts to create the "Abyssal Tarot" was concentrated on creating a set of 22 majors
but soon the concept expanded to become a full 78 card tarot set. The majority of the images were selected
from the archives of underwater photos that Shelly already had build up, but when it came to the minors there
were some gaps, which were filled in with images made specifically for the purpose and with relevant props used.
So why would the printers not print it? Because they had settled themselves up as guardians of fundamentalist
bigotry. The first two printers, with whom Ahlbom already had a professional contact, accepted the print job
at first, but when their art and pre-press departments took a closer look at all the images, they both backed
off. This material was "objectionable". Three other printers refused to bid on the task. This procedure in
vain took a year and alternative printing possibilities, like Asia or Europe, were hesitatingly considered.
A graphic designer, who wants full control over the process, can only obtain that by being present himself.
The solution was, however, quite close, just across the nearby border to Canada. A printing company with
expertise in art and photography books could not see anything "objectionable" in the Abyssal Tarot images.
It could be interesting to hear any of the refusing printers explain what it actually is, they find
"objectionable" in "The Abyssal Tarot". There are nude persons depicted, but how many people swim around
underwater fully dressed? Some images are even slightly erotic, but what is wrong with that? We are not in
the Arabian World. Some images have a touch of violence, particularly the suit of Swords. That is, however,
in the nature of the sword suit. Just take a look at the "Ten of Swords" in the Waite-Smith Tarot, which
depicts a body run through with ten swords. A similar kind of violence can not be found in the Abyssal Tarot.
Images depicting violence should not be unfamiliar to the US audience either, just take a look at the wealth
of comic books. Do these self-constituted guardians of morality also consider the paintings in any museum's
classical department obscene or violent? Many a classic painting could then upset them as well. There is
actually a touch of rococo or classical paintings in Shelly Corbett's photos with their softness and
subtle light.
If there was such a thing as "The Tarot of the Year", I would not hesitate to make this deck a candidate.
Unusual in its art, perfectly designed and printed and far from the comic book-style illustrations of the
majority of decks from the commercial tarot publishers. With Corbett's images we are really in an abyssal
world, where everything is silent and all sharpness and all contours are blurred, where the colors have a
quality, which can not be obtained above the water. The hair of the models is flowing softly in the water
like seaweed swaying in the stream. The soft figures are floating out of time in a universe that appears
endless. It is pure beauty with an over-earthly air over the scenery, which reminds me of Rudolf Steiner's
descriptions of those spheres, where the souls are waiting for the next incarnation.
Each card has a title, an indication of the special mood of the particular card, a title which, of course,
can also be used in a possible interpretation if that is what you want to use the cards for. The titles are
placed very discretely along the left side of the card and in no way distract from the image; rather they
appear to be part of the pattern itself. The design is perfect, the images are printed right out to the edges,
with no disturbing white borders. The backs depict an asymmetrical pattern with fields referring to the four
suits. Not all the backs are exactly the same, but I have not been able to figure out if there is a
system in the irregularity. Another detail I have wondered about is, why one card (Four of Wands) of the 78
is printed in black and white. The accompanying small booklet has color illustrations of all cards, and
short poetic texts and a few keywords written by Stephen Ahlbom. The cards are large (85x140 mm) and numbered
in sequence from 0 to 77; the sequence of the suits is - surprisingly - majors, cups, pentacles, swords and
wands.
Years ago, I naively believed that people with an interest in tarot were open minded and without prejudices
of any kind. Tarotists in USA taught me differently. When this deck was announced on the foremost US-tarot
web site, the web mistress herself found the deck "incredibly beautiful and erotic..." but added "it is also
incredibly graphic and contains a few disturbingly violent images". I have often been accused of prudishness,
but I think this is a gorgeous deck. If, however, you think you'd find it offensive, you might wish to avoid
it".
"Abyssal Tarot" is not meant as a deck aimed at tarot collectors and tarot readers but as a catalogue of the
highlights of the artist, Shelly Corbett`s year long period of underwater
photography. It will probably not come in common trade but rather will be sold in the
galleries Shelley Corbett is attached to or directly from her web-site
www.abyssaltarot.com The edition is
limited to 1000 copies and is signed by both artist and designer. The cost is $300 plus postage.
One would imagine that if an artist, working in the photographic medium, created a unique set of
tarot-related images in a technique never used in any tarot deck before and when a recognized graphic
designer, well versed in the world of tarot and in printing, conceptualized the artist's images into an
exclusive artistic tarot deck and they additionally found a way to finance the costly printing themselves,
then the world would soon see a new and different tarot deck.
This deck has essentially been in the works for years. Twelve years ago, the artist Shelly Corbett took up a
new trend in her art, namely underwater photography, which she developed to a specialty. A friend of hers,
graphic designer and ardent tarot collector Stephen Ahlbom, saw tarot qualities in many of her images and in
1996 he created the web-site "Abyssal Tarot", to present part of Corbett's work within a tarot frame. Already
came the US-fundamentalism, since the so-called "Communications Decency Act" had just been passed and
web hosts were hesitating to give server space for what narrow-minded fundamentalists called "Adult Content".
It could be interesting to hear any of the refusing printers explain what it actually is, they find
"objectionable" in "The Abyssal Tarot". There are nude persons depicted, but how many people swim around
underwater fully dressed? Some images are even slightly erotic, but what is wrong with that? We are not in
the Arabian World. Some images have a touch of violence, particularly the suit of Swords. That is, however,
in the nature of the sword suit. Just take a look at the "Ten of Swords" in the Waite-Smith Tarot, which
depicts a body run through with ten swords. A similar kind of violence can not be found in the Abyssal Tarot.
Images depicting violence should not be unfamiliar to the US audience either, just take a look at the wealth
of comic books. Do these self-constituted guardians of morality also consider the paintings in any museum's
classical department obscene or violent? Many a classic painting could then upset them as well. There is
actually a touch of rococo or classical paintings in Shelly Corbett's photos with their softness and
subtle light.
Each card has a title, an indication of the special mood of the particular card, a title which, of course,
can also be used in a possible interpretation if that is what you want to use the cards for. The titles are
placed very discretely along the left side of the card and in no way distract from the image; rather they
appear to be part of the pattern itself. The design is perfect, the images are printed right out to the edges,
with no disturbing white borders. The backs depict an asymmetrical pattern with fields referring to the four
suits. Not all the backs are exactly the same, but I have not been able to figure out if there is a
system in the irregularity. Another detail I have wondered about is, why one card (Four of Wands) of the 78
is printed in black and white. The accompanying small booklet has color illustrations of all cards, and
short poetic texts and a few keywords written by Stephen Ahlbom. The cards are large (85x140 mm) and numbered
in sequence from 0 to 77; the sequence of the suits is - surprisingly - majors, cups, pentacles, swords and
wands.
Years ago, I naively believed that people with an interest in tarot were open minded and without prejudices
of any kind. Tarotists in USA taught me differently. When this deck was announced on the foremost US-tarot
web site, the web mistress herself found the deck "incredibly beautiful and erotic..." but added "it is also
incredibly graphic and contains a few disturbingly violent images". I have often been accused of prudishness,
but I think this is a gorgeous deck. If, however, you think you'd find it offensive, you might wish to avoid
it".