In Greek mythology, the Gorgons were chthonic monsters (i.e. beings from the underworld rather than the heavens). Of the three Gorgons (Medusa, Stheno and Euryale), only the first, who had snakes for hair, was mortal and had the power to turn anyone who looked into her eyes to stone. She was murdered by Perseus, who cut off her head, which Athena later used as her aegis. How can we reinterpret the myth of Medusa and the Gorgons today? Well, by examining the theme of monstrosity from a female perspective, along with the body and its relationship to technology. On stage are three performers and two snake robots that seem to take us into a dystopian future, creating a link between past and future so that we can reflect on the present. How have origin stories in Western culture represented women and queer people? This is one of the issues that this choreography will explore.
This is the latest creation by Ainhoa Hernández Escudero, a multidisciplinary artist born in Madrid and now based in Amsterdam, where she creates work that, as she says, ‘explores the strange and monstrous at the intersection of magic, pop, post-internet aesthetics, technology and mainstream culture’. She is a member of the drag house House of Løstbois and the Twins Experiment collective. She completed the DAS Theatre master’s programme in 2022. She received the 2022-2023 3Package Deal Award from AFK in the dance category. She has presented her work at many venues, including Frascati (Amsterdam), Bâtard Festival (Brussels), MNCARS (Madrid), La Capella, Gessnerallee (Zurich), Center for Performance Research (New York), Arqueologías del Futuro (Argentina), Museo del Chopo (Mexico), Antic Teatre (Barcelona), La Caldera, La Casa Encendida (Madrid) and CA2M (Madrid).
Co-produced by the Spring Festival, ICK and the Antic Teatre.
Co-production in residency of O Espaço Do Tempo.
Created and directed by: Ainhoa Hernández Escudero. Performed by: Neda Ruzheva, Nina Pushkareva, Ainhoa Hernández Escudero. Choreography: Ainhoa Hernández Escudero, with Laura Ramírez, Neda Ruzheva and Nina Pushkareva. Written by: Ainhoa Hernández. Escudero, with Marta Keil. Exploration of movement: Laura Ramírez. Accompanied by: Carolina Bianchi. Sound: Fernanda Libman. Visuals: Urticae. Robot programming: Echo Wang. Lighting design: Irene Cantero. Production manager: Astrid Klein Haneveld. With the support of AFK, Norma, Stimulerings Fonds for Digital Culture, Yaa, Erik Impuls, New Adventures and the VandenEnde Foundation. Special thanks to: Isabel Escudero, Isabel Hernández, Isadora Tomasi, Ummi Renteria Wouters, Fleur De Schepper, Come Together #8, ID Lab, Veronica Visocka, Irene Brok, Lisa Reinheimer, House of Løstbois
