Curatorial Pitch–Under the Witch Moon

 

[The final project differs significantly from the version presented in this curatorial pitch. The reasons for these changes are discussed in the later blog posts and critical reflection.]

 

My exhibition Under the Witch Moon centers on the theme of “witches,” using the iconic Triple Goddess symbol from Wicca and feminist mysticism as its narrative framework. I aim to weave together a female narrative that transcends time and space.

 

Triple Goddess: From left to right are the three phases of the moon: waxing, full, and waning. They also represent the three stages of womanhood: Maiden, Mother, and Crone. This symbolizes the past, present, and future

 

 

This art exhibition begins with the imagery of the Triple Goddess, offering a retrospective on the historical fate of witches. It explores how Scotland’s historical witch trials and persecution of women have permeated contemporary society, and how contemporary female artists respond to this legacy.

 

Moon worship is deeply ingrained among witches. To my mind, the moon’s waxing and waning cycles symbolize the perpetual renewal of the female cycle and the enduring energy of life. This exhibition centers on linking the temporal and spatial symbolism of the Triple Goddess to the witch’s destiny. Each lunar phase corresponds to a temporal and spatial slice in the witch’s journey, mirroring the persecution and resistance women have endured at different stages of their lives.

 

The narrative begins with the waxing moon, symbolizing the Maiden. The featured artwork is Petra Collins’ 24 HOUR PSYCHO. This piece captures the sorrow and emotional turmoil experienced by young women. The author of The Madwoman in the Attic observes that within patriarchal narratives, women who fail to conform to the ‘angelic’ ideal are often confined to the attic, becoming ‘madwomen’. This piece visualizes the sorrow and breakdown of a young girl, aligning with the theme of my exhibition space. It responds to the emotional predicament and counter-resistance of young women.

 

 

The full moon symbolizes the mother archetype. The featured work here is Jesse Jones’ Tremble Tremble. This piece not only revisits the historical witch hunts but also addresses contemporary challenges faced by women, such as the denial of abortion rights, the undervaluing of domestic labor, and the lack of bodily autonomy. It reflects the real-life circumstances of women in motherhood and extends the power of “motherhood” from the individual to the collective.

 

 

The waning moon corresponds to The Crone. I selected Sarah Lucas’s WINTER SONG, an artist I discovered through the Big Women exhibition. This showcase of midlife and older female artists resonates deeply with my curatorial vision. I aim to present women navigating the passage of time，bearing the traces of past oppression yet possessing an undeniable resilience.

 

 

Bibliography：

Federici, S., 2004. Caliban and the Witch. Autonomedia.

Gilbert, S. and Gubar, S., 2004. The madwoman in the attic. na.

Jones, P., 2005. A Goddess Arrives: Nineteenth Century Sources of the New Age Triple Moon Goddess. A Journal of the History of Astrology and Cultural Astronomy, 9(1).