Sensory explosion: Meow Wolf adds new exhibition to its 'House of Eternal Return' in Santa Fe

Aug. 19—Meow Wolf Santa Fe's "House of Eternal Return" continues to evolve.

The original Meow Wolf exhibition's latest addition is the "Necro Techno Flesh Complex." It is a fully-immersive permanent installation by New Zealand-born artist Jess Johnson.

Johnson's meticulously hand-drawn worlds are brought to life in three dimensions as part of the "Necro Techno Flesh Complex," according to a Meow Wolf news release. The installation is a sensory experience that pulls visitors into a reality loop that blurs the lines between imagination and reality. It is a fusion of 2D drawings, 3D physical environments and digital animations. The "Necro Techno Flesh Complex" is now open to the public.

"We are continually adding new installations to discover, so every guest can have a unique experience each time they visit," said Susan Garbett, general manager of Meow Wolf Santa Fe, in a statement. " 'Necro Techno Flesh Complex' is a 360-degree journey into the imagination of a highly disciplined and fascinating artist."

The title of the installation, "Necro Techno Flesh Complex," is an enigmatic blend of words that, according to Johnson, do not have overt meanings. Instead, they are fragments of a reconstructed language inspired by Russell Hoban's post-apocalyptic novel "Riddley Walker," where language itself is shattered and reassembled in a new form.

"If you want to build a new world, you need a new language to describe it," Johnson said in a statement.

The sense of childlike wonder and imagination is central to Johnson's artistic practice, according to the news release. Her creative process begins with drawings that slowly evolve into larger, more complex manifestations whether it be installations, digital animations or fashion.

"Visiting Meow Wolf mostly felt like I was time traveling — going back to being a child," Johnson said in a statement. "It was a strange type of interaction, as I wasn't really in the moment, but instead imagining how I would respond to the experience as a kid."

After a year-long residency at the Roswell Artist-In-Residence Program, Johnson is returning to Roswell this year to establish a more permanent base. The move marks a significant shift for the artist, who has spent years traveling between residencies and creative spaces around the world, according to the news release.

"I'd like to make New Mexico my home," Johnson said in a statement. "Spending one year in Roswell was the longest I've stayed in one place and I wasn't ready to leave. The landscape and the small community activated something really good and peaceful in me."

Meow Wolf offers extraordinary, mind-bending experiences that transport millions of adventurers of all ages into realms of imagination and wonder. It has received numerous accolades over the years.

Meow Wolf opened the "House Of Eternal Return" at 1352 Rufina Circle in Santa Fe in 2016. It has since opened "Omega Mart" (2021) in Las Vegas, Nevada; "Convergence Station" (2021) in Denver; and "The Real Unreal" in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in Texas. Meow Wolf plans to open a new location this year in Houston. For more information on Meow Wolf, visit meowwolf.com.