'4 Women in Aquelarre' prints, scuptures, mixed media work & ceramics

About

‘4 Women in Aquelarre’ is an exhibition of prints, sculptures, mixed media works and ceramics by four artists based in London E17: Anna Alcock, Linda Green, Kirsten Schmidt and Yaniré Sylva Delgado.

Its inspiration is the idea of the Witches’ Sabbath – famously and disturbingly imagined by Goya in Los Caprichos, and long associated with rebellion, transgression, the reality of persecution and the power of ritual . There is a way in which womens’ authentic nature has been repressed for centuries by a value system which has trivialised emotional truth, intuitive wisdom and the instinctual knowing of the deep feminine.

There is an imperative for women to own their power, recover their voices, reclaim their imaginations and recover their stories and the ancient memories of women. At this time of change and uncertainty 4 Women in Aquelarre express their reality as women through their art. In embracing mystery and darkness both internal and external 4 Women in Aquelarre invites the viewer to figuratively descend into the underworld, to recognize the depth of feminine wisdom and the knowing of the body, to reflect on the meaning to be found in stories and ritual, to value and celebrate creativity and to contemplate the transforming power of pain and loss.

Anna Alcock ​“My contribution to Aquelarre celebrates the power of women and of witchcraft. I’ve delved into African shamanism and Zulu ideas about witch-doctors or ‘sangomas’.

Linda Green “​In my work for Aquelarre I explore the idea of the layering of life over life as recorded in artefacts, documents and photographs, all of which may degrade over time. I am inspired by my interest in Buddhism, my experience of Shamanism and ritual and my reading of T.S. Eliot’s ‘Four Quartets”.

Kirsten Schmidt​ ‘I am forever fascinated by anthropological objects created by different cultures at different times in history. I love the visual manifestation of humans trying to connect with an invisible imagined world; my work draws on these inspirations”.

Yaniré Sylva Delgado “​In Burial Project or Proyecto Enterramientos, I have made books, prints and ceramics to express my identity, culture and values as an Ecuadorian woman and artist. I have explored issues of guilt and morality and looked at burial ceremonies and the ways in which we seek peace through closure.