Suzy Medwell, Arachne - Dare to be Seen (ART & OBJECTS 2024)

Photos:

Robert Medwell

She dared to exist She became the unleasher of evil She dared to be beautiful She became the snake headed monster She dared to say no She became a prophet, cursed to never be believed And me? I dared to be seen I became the first spider, cursed to weave for eternity Arachne was a weaver from Greek mythology. After her skill was noticed by Athena, the Goddess of weaving, Athena challenged Arachne to a weaving competition. Athena could not find fault in Arachne’s tapestry, and in a fit of rage, she transformed Arachne into the first spider, then cursed her to weave for eternity. In relation to my depiction of Arachne I carved Pandora without her pithos. Medusa without her snakes. Arachne without her webs. The reason I chose to carve these women from Greek myth in their human form is because their identity is tied up in their curses, and when we only see the curse, we do not see the woman. All these myths began with women. Women whose identities changed how we see them, due to circumstances outside of their control. Due to being noticed and cursed by someone more powerful. I choose in my carvings to remove that curse, in order to give the women, and their stories back their power. Arachne was carved unplugged (no power tools), in huon pine. Bulk out with axe, adze, and gouges. Detail with gouges, micro-gouges, and rifflers. Finished by scraping, hand sanding and oiling. Size approx. 360x310mm

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