Cale, cale, cale! Caale!!!
A Ritual to Reverse the Spell of the Illusion of Power as Control
Performance by Valentina Desideri & Corazón del Sol, 2017
Tabakalera: International Centre for Contemporary Culture, San Sebastián
Magic and nature. Throughout history, magic moments and places have been connected to the natural in diverse ways. Putting an eguzkilore – a flower that looks somewhat like a thistle – on the door of a house to scare away genies, witches and evil spirits is still quite common today in The Basque Country. Cale, cale, cale! Caale!!! (Fall, fall, fall! Faaall!!!) is something that was still being shouted out until not too long ago by a farmer in Lucania, southern Italy, reciting a magic spell against storms. The choice between “magic” and “rationality” 1 was one of the major questions at the origin of modern civilization, with thinking veering insistently towards the latter, and attempting to forget the former. That notwithstanding, the protection of flowers, words, gestures is still very present in our lives.
A Ritual to Reverse the Spell of the Illusion of Power as Control
Performance by Valentina Desideri & Corazón del Sol, 2017
Tabakalera: International Centre for Contemporary Culture, San Sebastián
Magic and nature. Throughout history, magic moments and places have been connected to the natural in diverse ways. Putting an eguzkilore – a flower that looks somewhat like a thistle – on the door of a house to scare away genies, witches and evil spirits is still quite common today in The Basque Country. Cale, cale, cale! Caale!!! (Fall, fall, fall! Faaall!!!) is something that was still being shouted out until not too long ago by a farmer in Lucania, southern Italy, reciting a magic spell against storms. The choice between “magic” and “rationality” 1 was one of the major questions at the origin of modern civilization, with thinking veering insistently towards the latter, and attempting to forget the former. That notwithstanding, the protection of flowers, words, gestures is still very present in our lives.
Curator: Juan Canela
Artists: Elena Aitzkoa, Valentina Desideri & Corazón del Sol, Tamar Guimarães & Kasper Akhøj, Oier Iruretagoiena, Equipo Jeleton, Rometti Costales, Beatriz Santiago y Osías Yanov
Text from the performance:
We will collectively perform a ritual to reverse the spell of the illusion of power as control. Everybody is welcome.
You are invited to sew onto the piece of burlap in the exhibition entrance any object, piece of material (organic if possible) or symbolic element referring to histories of power and domination, be them personal or social, that you would like this ritual to reverse.
TABAKALERA: EXHIBITION PAGE
TABAKALERA: PERFORMANCE PAGE
Artists: Elena Aitzkoa, Valentina Desideri & Corazón del Sol, Tamar Guimarães & Kasper Akhøj, Oier Iruretagoiena, Equipo Jeleton, Rometti Costales, Beatriz Santiago y Osías Yanov
Text from the performance:
We will collectively perform a ritual to reverse the spell of the illusion of power as control. Everybody is welcome.
You are invited to sew onto the piece of burlap in the exhibition entrance any object, piece of material (organic if possible) or symbolic element referring to histories of power and domination, be them personal or social, that you would like this ritual to reverse.
TABAKALERA: EXHIBITION PAGE
TABAKALERA: PERFORMANCE PAGE
