Malèna
Installation
Size Varies
2023
The title of the installation, Malèna, references the Italian erotic comedy-drama Malèna (2000), a quintessential example of the singular portrayal of women on screen. The film cast the griefs of war on the dichotomous narrative and imagination of a virtuous, goddess-like woman turning into a broken whore, which confines, consumes, and strips the women agency through objectification. In this work, the artist employs motifs such as menstrual blood and cigarettes as metaphors for the violence and exploitation of women by patriarchal systems. By embracing grotesque and violent imagery, the piece channels rage and challenges conservative notions of shame, creating a powerful act of defiance.
