Venifica; Another Garden Theme
'Bobbe Myseh' Doll Archive
INSTALLATION
The shrivelled up fallen apples from Venifica’s Garden and the dried out apple peels from Venifica’s ‘Bobbe Myseh’ Booth are upcycled as material for the creation of Venifica’s ‘Bobbe Myseh’ Dolls archive.. Each one has their own personalised name inscribed on a parchment paper in a metal name plate.
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Solo Exhibitions
Dancing with the Leviathan, Lonsdale Gallery, Toronto; Canada, 1997
Dirty Work, Deleon White Gallery Toronto; Canada, 1997
Components : 42 effigies/dolls comprising :
shrivelled fallen apples
dried apple peels
vegetal elements
hand calligraphied name tags on parchment paper
steel name plates
stainless steel pins
" The Legend of Venifica " : handwritten calligraphy on parchment paper
Dimensions :
installation wall : 4.2 m x 2.5 m
1 doll approx. : 18 cm x 8.5 cm x 5 cm
metal name plates : 5.5 cm x 3 cm
metal framed legend : 24 cm x 36 cm
The Legend of Venifica
Based on a traumatic childhood experience; upon peeling apples, an elderly and wise woman once told a group of young girls that, when tossing apple peels over ones’ shoulder, the skins would form into the shape of a letter, and that those letters would represent the initials of the man they were to marry! The girls performed this ritual in an attempt to match their desired names. One of the girls, Venifica, experienced a series of apple skin letters that formed the word “S - C - H - M - U - C - K “ (a Yiddish word describing male genitalia, a derogatory term used in humour to refer to men who have made mistakes, and a German word for jewellery); thus incessantly spelling out her fate. Given this oracle, Venifica grew up to be both knowledgeable and sexy and like all venificous women, became both a healer and a potion maker. She maintained a holistic approach to life, treating like with like, poison with poison! Thus, began Venifica ‘s life long obsession: seeking out a deeper understanding to her prophesy by collecting real life schmuck experiences from others. In this process she developed a broad repertoire of “Bubbe Myseh” (old wive tales) stories.
INSTRUCTIONS :
To help maintain Venifica’s “Bubbe Myseh” traditions and to perpetuate and increase her archive, the Venifica Doll will listen to all your stories. When you feel you have exhausted Venifica’s receptive abilities, you may bury her in some compost or soil.
* Venifica Doll is an organic product made from 100% apples.
© Copyright Venifica Inc. 1997