Venus of Petřkovice

The performance was part of the Malamut Festival and an event within my exhibition "Venus Gravity" at the Jama Gallery. It referenced Ostrava's history as a mining town and its role as a supplier of energy resources. The region is also known for the discovery of the Paleolithic female figurine called the Venus of Petrkovice. Historical sources indicate that even in the Paleolithic era, people in these areas were aware of coal's properties and used it in their fireplaces.

A central theme of the performance was the relationship between the reverence for femininity in the Stone Age and the contemporary lack of respect for women and values associated with femininity. This disregard leads to violence and the exploitation of both the natural environment and societal values, as evidenced during the recent pandemic. The immediate context included the climate crisis and the looming energy crisis resulting from Russian policies, with Russia being the primary supplier of fossil fuels and employing "energy blackmail" against European countries that support Ukraine against Russian aggression.

The performance took the form of a ritual unfolding in three distinct spaces: in front of the gallery, inside, and in the courtyard behind it. Initially, I was separated from the audience by the gallery window. My gestures were an attempt to establish contact with the people on the other side of the glass, focused on touch and closeness; however, the barrier rendered this interaction a mere simulation, devoid of the genuine sensations associated with human connection.

When the audience entered the gallery, I lit incense — rose, myrrh, and white sage — on a mound of coal. These scents are associated with the goddess Venus and purification. The scent had a dual nature: it was pleasant yet concentrated, creating a suffocating feeling. Similarly, coal provides warmth and temporary comfort but also contributes to smog and environmental pollution.

In the next part of the performance, I applied potassium permanganate to my body to "reveal" a white type of pentagram, a symbol of Venus and self-improvement. I handed out paper fans to the audience, allowing them to generate energy from renewable sources.

In the final segment, held in the yard, I served a dark liquid — Polish cherry liqueur — to warm the audience "from the inside."