Aphrodite’s Girdle, 2014
Video, 00:27:30.
video still: © Victoria Begalskaya, Collection M HKA, Antwerp, Donation of the artist, 2016
Collection: Collection M HKA, Antwerp / Donated by the artist, 2016 (Inv. no. S0536).
Aphrodite’s Girdle is a puppet show created by the Teresa Creative Union of Artists and sex-workers (Vika Begalska, Alexander Vilkin, Marina Denisova, Taira Dance, Diana Portlend, Sergey Potapov, Karina 'Katwoman' Dulina, Baretta). The show is based on interviews and life stories of streetwalkers who were also directly involved in the creation of the performance. Juxtaposing the common view of modern society with true images of sex workers, the puppet show tinges a harsh reality with a sense of melancholy, while at the same time giving it an ironic twist. Aphrodite’s Girdle must be situated within the context of activist, post-feminist works, positioning the film not as a critique of male dominance, but rather as a critique of this critique. It evidences a sense of bravura and pride, and is a clear demonstration that the women performing in this puppet theatre have not lost control over who they are.
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Artist
> Vika Begalska.
Exhibitions & Ensembles
> Exhibition: INBOX: ‘Aphrodite’s Girdle’. M HKA , Antwerp, 04 July 2017 - 30 July 2017 23:59.
> Exhibition: EXTRA MUROS: Geel – Middle Gate II – The Story of Dymphna. Stad Geel, Geel, 15 September 2018 - 04 November 2018.
> Ensemble: Aanwinsten 2016 [Acquisitions 2016].
> Ensemble: GEWELD | VIOLENCE.
> Ensemble: Middle Gate.