SHADOW OF VENUS
video installation, 3 channel, 20 min, audio, no language, 2023, Mexico/Germany
ideo s
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Written, directed, filmed & edited by Alejandra Montoya
video installation, 3 channel, 20 min, audio, no language, 2023, Mexico/Germany
Preview, Shadow of Venus
Inspired
by my personal journey of decolonization, having gained a cultural
distance that allows me to see myself and my roots,
I've embarked on
a quest filled with questions only my ancestors may hold the answers
to. Decolonization is to meet our ancestors. Decolonization is a spiritual pratice.
This
is a film about a mestiza
questioning her identity as she confronts the shadows of forgotten
histories, only to awaken the latent memories of her ancestors, long
stored within the recesses of her body, mind, and spirit.
ideo s
graduation show, Monopol Berlin, 14.-16.07.2023
Shadow of Venus is an experimental short film set in the epistemological space of the internalized coloniality of a mestiza, where the sense of self relies on the Eurocentric and patriarchal worldview perpetuated in Abya Yala. Displayed as a 3-channel video installation, the film acknowledges the interrelation between the human body and celestial bodies, in this case, Venus and the Moon, as they share periodicities and cycles: the lunar and the menstrual, the Venusian and the gestational. Through introspective meditation, the mestiza immerses herself in a spiritual journey in synchronicity with the moon and Venus, where the mind, body, and spirit become territories in dispute.
The installation comprises three projections, with screens positioned adjacent, aligning their edges. The middle screen adheres to a 16:9 format, while the side screens adopt a 4:3 ratio. The middle screen is installed parallel to a wall or creating a frontal position for the viewer, while the side screens are subtly inwardly rotated, forming a composition reminiscent of a triptych. In front of the screens, a circular jute carpet holds a bowl of water at the center, surrounded by flowers, smaller water bowls, and candles. Meditation cushions serve as seating. The installation is designed for an open audio experience, though it is also compatible with headphones.
film stills, Shadow of Venus