"WITCHES REVISITED: EXPLORATION OF OTHERNESS THROUGH FEMININE ARCHETYPES"
Anna Maskava. Self-portrait. 2023.
The project "WITCHES REVISITED: EXPLORATION OF OTHERNESS THROUGH FEMININE ARCHETYPES" was organised as an interdisciplinary art and cultural project that sought to examine the concept of "Otherness" through the lens of the witch archetype. This project aimed to challenge stereotypes, foster empathy, and promote a deeper understanding of marginalized individuals and groups throughout history and in contemporary society.
View the full project programme here.
Thought-provoking discussions and workshops featuring artists and experts from cultural production, art history, folklore and mythology allowed the participants and audiences to explore the archetype of the witch that is rich and multifaceted, and often embodies various contradictions and complexities.
The witch archetype is seen as closely tied to femininity and women's power, but it has also been used to justify the oppression and persecution of women. This contradiction reflects the historical struggle for gender equality and the fear of women's agency. Witches can also be often associated with herbalism, nature, and healing, but they are also linked to curses, hexes, and malefic magic. This contradiction highlights the complex relationship between nature, spirituality and magic.
The project’s key objectives:
1) To challenge and expand traditional narratives and perceptions of witches by reinterpreting the witch archetype in contemporary contexts.
2) To examine the concept of Otherness, especially broader issues of identity and societal norms.
3) To explore the intersection of gender and power in the context of the witch archetype.
Latvian Centre for Performance Art received network funding from the Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme for Culture to implement the project.
