all images copyright of Kali van der Merwe
Kali van der Merwe in collaboration with Valentina Leo
The image of a woman with a snake has in the course of human history received many interpretations: fear, reverence, worship, the source of evil, shame, sexuality, death, life, creation, healing, lust, transformation….
In this piece a naked woman has a snake draped around her. Scrolling over her body are historical texts. Running at vulva level are extracts from the Malleus Maleficarum (The Hammer of Witches) written in 1487 by James Sprenger and Henry Kramer, used for the detection and trial of witches.
Running at brow level is a Shaktisangama Tantra poem, dated roughly around the 6th to 8th century, exalting the female form.
The texts scroll in different directions, leaving the viewer to choose what and how much to read in relation to this symbolic image.
performance
Valentina Leo
camera
Kali van der Merwe
editing
Kali van der Merwe
soundscapes
Kali van der Merwe
snake charmer
Valentina Leo
special thanks to OSCAR the albino python
out of time
running time: 13 min : 09 seconds