৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌ is a polymorphic study group that was born in 2020 between Palermo, Naples and Berlin. The intent is to explore the intersection of feminism and the Southern question, reworking traditional historical myths and narratives in order to create multi-temporal alliances with the present. Their methodological approach involves the use of dialogical form and self-education as practices of collective imagination.
From our discussions, we found a strong link between the representation of Meridione, whose tales and traditions have been too often ignored, oversimplified and exoticized, and the Women and their genealogies, that were also excluded or manipulated from the singular and dominant narrative of history. The Meridione, passive and backward but also magical, mysterious and undiscovered, and the Women of the South, are both the most stereotypical expressions of a binary, simplistic and othering representation. Our aim is to re–narrate these stories in a more complex way, re–positioning the focus on what is left in the collective unconscious and discussing the concepts of backwardness and progress, magical and mythical. We aim to give back the voices to the subjects (not exclusively alive or human) that move through the South of Italy, including us.
Our research follows the steps of the women of the South, for example the Movements for the Occupation of the Land in the 50’s and the protests connected to the Belice Earthquake in the 60’s – 70’s. During our meetings we discussed the theme of subjectivity departing from the writings of Carla Lonzi, and analyzed the memories of Goliarda Sapienza, we were interested in the mythologies linked to the witchafts in the Aeolian Islands, and we collected audiovisual materials (documentaries, experimental films) produced by women who were asking our very same questions in the past.
Film Screening
⚱️ Machinalive
Brescia, April 2022
৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌: Rough
⚱️ Weekend on the ground
Bologna, October 2021
৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌: A volte vorrei essere un sasso
⚱️ Nuova Orfeo
Palermo, September 2021
৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌: Architetture di Autocoscienza
Exhibitions
⚱️ Radura
Istituto Svizzero di Roma, May 2022
⚱️ The Palermo Living Pavilion
Palazzo Butera, Palermo, November 2021
৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌: L’oracolo
L’oracolo: video installation inspired by the figures of the oracle priestesses. It consists of formulas, political prophecies, poetic vaticinis that aim to inspire future horizons. The work is inspired by the figures of the oracular sibyls.
⚱️ ৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌: Sono io e non sono io
The group ৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌ present the video artwork Sono io e non sono io inspired by the myths of the Aeolian Majare (witches).
Other Projects
⚱️ Il lavoro dovrebbe essere maledetto
for A Blues For The Tired, Salty, Essential Worker
⚱️ Marea
Amalfi coast, art residency
February 2022
The Collective ৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌ and the research on the Majare / Janare in Positano
⚱️ Beatrice Gibson and Nick Gordon with Claire Fontaine e ৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌
Alkestis, a feminist epic
⚱️ Marea Art Project
Art residency in Amalfi coast – November 2022
⚱️ The tending of the otherwise
BJCEM (Biennale des Jeunes Créateurs de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée) in the frame of Procida Capitale della Cultura 2022
———
৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌ is a polymorphic study group that was born in 2020 between Palermo, Naples and Berlin. The intent is to explore the intersection of feminism and the Southern question, reworking traditional historical myths and narratives in order to create multi-temporal alliances with the present. Their methodological approach involves the use of dialogical form and self-education as practices of collective imagination.
From our discussions, we found a strong link between the representation of Meridione, whose tales and traditions have been too often ignored, oversimplified and exoticized, and the Women and their genealogies, that were also excluded or manipulated from the singular and dominant narrative of history. The Meridione, passive and backward but also magical, mysterious and undiscovered, and the Women of the South, are both the most stereotypical expressions of a binary, simplistic and othering representation. Our aim is to re–narrate these stories in a more complex way, re–positioning the focus on what is left in the collective unconscious and discussing the concepts of backwardness and progress, magical and mythical. We aim to give back the voices to the subjects (not exclusively alive or human) that move through the South of Italy, including us.
Our research follows the steps of the women of the South, for example the Movements for the Occupation of the Land in the 50’s and the protests connected to the Belice Earthquake in the 60’s – 70’s. During our meetings we discussed the theme of subjectivity departing from the writings of Carla Lonzi, and analyzed the memories of Goliarda Sapienza, we were interested in the mythologies linked to the witchafts in the Aeolian Islands, and we collected audiovisual materials (documentaries, experimental films) produced by women who were asking our very same questions in the past.
Film Screening
⚱️ Machinalive
Brescia, April 2022
৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌: Rough
⚱️ Weekend on the ground
Bologna, October 2021
৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌: A volte vorrei essere un sasso
⚱️ Nuova Orfeo
Palermo, September 2021
৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌: Architetture di Autocoscienza
Exhibitions
⚱️ Radura
Istituto Svizzero di Roma, May 2022
⚱️ The Palermo Living Pavilion
Palazzo Butera, Palermo, November 2021
৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌: L’oracolo
L’oracolo: video installation inspired by the figures of the oracle priestesses. It consists of formulas, political prophecies, poetic vaticinis that aim to inspire future horizons. The work is inspired by the figures of the oracular sibyls.
⚱️ ৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌: Sono io e non sono io
The group ৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌ present the video artwork Sono io e non sono io inspired by the myths of the Aeolian Majare (witches).
Other Projects
⚱️ Il lavoro dovrebbe essere maledetto
for A Blues For The Tired, Salty, Essential Worker
⚱️ Marea
Amalfi coast, art residency
February 2022
The Collective ৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌ and the research on the Majare / Janare in Positano
⚱️ Beatrice Gibson and Nick Gordon with Claire Fontaine e ৺ ෴ ර ∇ ❃ ﹌﹌
Alkestis, a feminist epic
⚱️ Marea Art Project
Art residency in Amalfi coast – November 2022
⚱️ The tending of the otherwise
Art residency in Procida curated by Simone Frangi and Alessandro Castiglioni
BJCEM (Biennale des Jeunes Créateurs de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée) in the frame of Procida Capitale della Cultura 2022
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