The art piece highlights survival actions carried out by bees and juxtaposes them with communitarian and traditional actions carried out by women in various cultures, where the idea of a collective self is vivid and grounded.
Through an organic collaboration with the performers in shaping the research topics, the performance talks about collective actions including the "Zalengo" dance from Greece; the "Le Mondine" from Italy; traditional Palestinian tales about women; the Hammam practices; “Porci con le ali” a sexual-political diary written by adolescents in the late ‘70 - and the consequential actions undertaken by Italian teenage girls in defiance of censorship imposed by a patriarchal society; etc.
In addition, the interactions among the performers are inspired by the general communication dynamics observed in the world of bees.
HONEY, BLOOD and MILK emerge as symbols of connectedness, communication, strength and resilience. They are raw, primordial excretions which carry associations to life and they are ways in which women intervene ecosystems.
Central to the interpretation of this concept is the incorporation of braided hair. Braids are memory, connectivity, and consistency. Braided hair transcends cultural boundaries and holds a personal and unique story for each individual. As such, it becomes a powerful symbol representing bonds, cultural connections, growth, sanctity, and individuality.
HONEY, BLOOD and MILK navigates the dynamic forms of female collectivism, such as (in)dependence, intimacy, adaptation, power and strength.
The choreographic work also incorporates the symbolic essence of fountains, representing abundance, prosperity, and vitality.
In the Roman Empire fountains held significance beyond being sources of water. Those with the ability to master water, like the Romans, were embodying power and the richness of life.
By employing milk or blood as cleansing agents instead of water, the performance delves into a deeper exploration of feminine elements.
This approach aims to restore the power linked to mastering liquids, particularly within the feminine domain, reimagining fountains as ritualistic passages between narratives, symbolising transformation and feminine resilience.
A performance work that explores the symbolism of bees in relation to the foundational premises of feminism.
____________________________________
22
sculpture
____________________________________
LIMINALS
art residencies project
“There is a swirling, kaleidoscopic experience of free association at the edge of our mind. You will find it in the space between wakefulness and sleep, where consciousness wanders and mixes memories and thoughts with visionary images. I call this experience a liminal dream".
This residency project seeks to channel into the matter the creative potential inherent in the liminal dream. It aims to cultivate a new body of work by embracing the challenge of a new creative process, transforming it into a personal conduit for innovative artistic interventions. Beyond personal exploration, the project seeks to define liminal dreaming as a viable creative practice.
The first piece of this project, here included, has been produced during this year. It stands as a talisman, the first product of a liminal state phase channeled by the artist in the timeframe preceding awakening, envisioned during her staying in Morocco within the Sahara desert. The work has been brought to life in collaboration with a Moroccan artisan based in Essaouira.
___________________________________
LILITH
sculpture
Media: ceramic, latex, paint, wax
Size: 20 x 15 x 18 cm
The sculpture symbolically embodies a moment of connection with the energetic essence of Lilith, also known as Ishtar - a concept explored and studied within the astrological domain.
Lilith in Leo, seventh house is a self, unapologetic portrait found swimming into the abyss of rage, ugliness, fire, passion and relationships.
___________________________________
SELF SABOTAGE
sculpture
Media: gypsum, concrete, latex, varnish
Size: 17 x 9 x 23 cm
"Self-sabotage" is a story of dissent, tangled in a self-destructive yet enticing system.
"Self-sabotage" is chewing one's own flesh, much like savouring a piece of bubble gum.