Saturday 14 June 2008

Fragments of Demeter/Recalling Poseidon (2008) - Degree Show Statement

Fragments of Demeter/Recalling Poseidon


Δημήτηρ/Ποσειδῶν (Demeter/Poseidon)

In Greek mythology Demeter was the goddess of grain and fertility, her name translating as distribution mother or mother-earth. Poseidon, whose name signifies consort of the distributer, pursued Demeter only to have his advances spurned by the goddess. In an attempt to divert his attention from her, Demeter disguised her divinity by transforming herself into a mare and roamed among the horses of King Onkios. Poseidon was not fooled and, by turning himself into a stallion, he raped her.

The supernatural influence of mythology allows cultures to make sense of nature and humanity and that which does not always make sense. Fragments of Demeter explores the reality of a complex and personal history in which recollections of the same event are characterised and fractioned, and space is peppered with ambiguity, chaos and control. Methods of control and disorder bridge the gap between personal and public reality, quietly revealing things that go unsaid.

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