From Arid Landscapes to Ancient Waters
Curated by: Lýdia Pribišová
Address: For Maat, Železničná 3, Trenčín
Private View: 7th June 2024 at 6pm
Exhibition: Until 31st August 2024
Artists Lucie Kordačová and Miroslava Večeřová will transform FOR MAAT gallery in Trenčín into a magical space, in which they will delve into ancient mythologies, rituals and astrology. The exhibition will reflect current ecofeminist approaches which call for a reconnection with nature through a collective caring for the environment. Kordačová and Večeřová focus on ancient storytelling traditions - stories that speak about the cultural significance of water and the influence that nature has on society. They explore the relationship of water to terrestrial and celestial bodies, linking water to thinking, the unconscious and memories, considering the emotional connections between humans, other life forms and species, and the earth.
This exhibition follows on from the Arid Landscapes and Ancient Waters residency at GLOAM Gallery in Sheffield, UK, which took place on Hromnice, 2nd February 2024. Here the artists focused on linking different traditions of welcoming the sun and its life-giving energy and rituals celebrating the arrival of spring. The new live performance following the residency was inspired by the Sun's journey around the stars of the constellation Aries. It includes an original rendition of a song performed by a singer which is based on the Slovak folk song Na jarný veselý čas (translated as For The Blooming Spring), which welcomes the sun and tells the story about its migration across the sky. Through this interpretation the artists also reflect on their own identity as migrants living in the UK.
In the exhibition, the artists present a new two-channel video, projected onto fabric, which is based on the live performance Arietis Sisters and the Sun, that took place in spring on the seaside at Electro Studio Project Space in St. Leonards-on-Sea, UK. In addition to this, the exhibition consists of objects and large-scale prints on textiles. In Arietis Sisters and the Sun, various ritual elements intertwine, evoking the interconnectedness of the ocean ecosystem with thousands of years of astrological tradition. Symbolic gestures and dance mimic the movement of the tides, celestial bodies, recalling the interconnectedness of human life with the cycles of the earth as well as other cosmic bodies. The performance was based on various symbols and visual associations with the constellation of Aries, with an emphasis on the equinox period when the Sun passes from the sign of Pisces into the sign of Aries.
The artists delved into the themes of rising sea levels due to the environmental emergency, exploring the coastal landscape, its flora and fauna, as well as associated myths and legends. The worship of water is almost as old as humanity itself. Our bodies are largely made of water, which is constantly transforming and returning to other bodies of water, so in many ways human bodies are barely separable from the numerous other bodies of water we interact and immerse ourselves within. By diving into the watery depths, we can find ways to reshape the understandings of our myriad worlds.
Wax props are made in collaboration and fabricated by Hadaikum. Metal objects are fabricated by Glynde Forge. Performers for the original performance are Lise Boucon, Hannah Collisson, Jess Mabel Jones, Santi Sorrenti, singer Adelaide Percy. Camera and sound for performance is Atom Inions Morton. Performers for the film are Hannah Collisson, Jess Mabel Jones, Santi Sorrenti and singers Charlie Austen, Cordelia Gartside and Kira Edwards. Camera, postproduction and sound for the film is Alice Doušová with Denes Szabo. Assistant director (film): Gabriela Zigová. Graphic Design for the project is made by Matúš Buranovský.
The exhibition is supported by the Goethe-Institut Slovakia.
Photo: Jana Gombiková
Production: Dušan Chrastina
