Transcendent Country of the Mind is a photobook by Finnish artist Sari Soininen, published by The Eriskay Connection. Across 80 pages in a Swiss-bound softcover, the book explores encounters with alternative dimensions of reality and perceptions of otherworldly signs around us: an encounter with the subconscious, with the world that resides in the back of our minds. In her early twenties, Soininen regularly and excessively experimented with LSD, which eventually resulted in an extended psychotic episode that impacted her life profoundly. The experience fundamentally changed how she perceives her surroundings and reality itself; she let go of all her worldly possessions, saw Heaven and Hell, and was confronted with a different perception of time and space.

Revisiting this traumatic yet eye-opening experience was a way for Soininen to let go of it, and the book is a representation of that event, offering other similar glimpses of what she discovered behind the curtain of reality. This colourful body of work is a kaleidoscope of mesmerising landscapes, unfamiliar portraits and more, showing the vivid world around us in all its beauty and darkness.

The book was made with a small team: Rob van Hoesel designed it, Janne Haapaniemi handled proofreading, and Sebastiaan Hanekroot of Colour&Books did the lithography. Production was by Jos Morree of Fine Books, printing by Wilco Art Books, and binding by Patist. The first edition was 500 copies, and the project was supported by TaiKe, Frame Finland and Finnfoto.

The book measures 210 × 280 mm and uses a Swiss-bound softcover. The title asks what lies beneath and sparkles above: a journey towards the undiscovered.