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We were the modern cunt
Rhomboidal forms are a characteristic feature of the Belarusian traditional ornament. This geometrical figure is considered an analogy of the wheel in weaving and is the attitude for all solar symbols. The diamond according to the symbolism of Belarusian culture means earth, water, sky, woman, spring, the transition from death to life and vice versa, circling the "circle" of human life. This geometric figure symbolizes the reproductive power of a woman, and as many reserchers have noted - her external genitalia. Pure, empty diamond should be understood as virginity. A diamond with a dot in the middle is an ancient sign of grain, but also of losing virginity. Criss-cross diamond means a pregnant woman. A diamond with many suckers and bright crosses inside means a fertile land and a large mother.
The maiden rhombus also appears on the fabric - germinating or flowering, in the form of a diamond divided into four fields, with a small dark diamond in the middle, crosses and sprouts in the fields.
We were the modern cunt, is the motto of the Cyborg Manifesto spoken, unlike the original, in the past tense. This work is the result of my many years of interest in Belarusian ornament, with particular emphasis on its hidden meanings.
It's no accident that I painted women's symbols using tampons, shades of paint similar to blood - symbolizing life. Each of the ornaments that make up this unique composition is a female story, a woman in a specific period of her life - a virgin, pregnant married woman or mother. All these women speak to us with a difficult, almost impossible to read hieroglyph, placed at the end of the performance, but we are not able to read these words.The translation of the last verse is contained in the title of this action.
The language of Belarusian ornament rediscovered, used in the last verse of the pattern, is an artificial, non-scientific philosophical creation created by the Belarusian philosopher Mikhail Bajarin. He is also a designer who created and made available in the public domain two fonts that change the Cyrillic and Latin alphabet into ornaments somewhat reminiscent of the letters we know. Such ornamental text can be readable if you know the Latin alphabet, but you should look hard. For the purposes of this work, the ornamental font underwent a metamorphosis into dots.
The strategy of dismantling the system, complementary to the contemporary forms proposed by ancient women, is to create a community of women whose existence is crucial for the effectiveness of any strategies for dismantling the system; and also the continuation of the idea of an ornament language - that is, a secret language, a common code for women. XIII Feminist Seminar, 18.04.2020, Lokal_30.
![]() XIII Seminarium Feministyczne, Lokal_30, performans (3) | ![]() Katarzyna Sienkiewicz, lecture performance We were the modern cunt | ![]() Katarzyna Sienkiewicz, lecture performnace We were the modern cunt, 2020 |
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![]() XIII Seminarium Feministyczne, Lokal_30, performans (4) | ![]() We were the modern cunt. lectire performance, 2020 |
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