Sherry Wiggins (photography by Luis Branco), Woman on Evoramonte/Mulheres em Evoramonte, 2015, black and white photograph.

I am returning to Portugal this month to the Obras Artist Residency to work in the landscape of the Alentejo in more “performative” works. In 2015 Luis Branco shot the image above of me titled Woman on Evoramonte / Mulheres em Evoramonte. There is a sense of connection to the land, the sky and the elements and a specific sense of feminine subjectivity in this image. I want to continue this practice of performing the elemental landscape and the elemental feminine body in new photographic works during this next residency. I will always be influenced by Portuguese conceptual artist Helena Almeida, however Helena does not work in the landscape. There are many women artists who have explored the feminine in the landscape and following are a few of my favorites. I do not reference any of these artists specifically in my own work, however I am walking on hallowed ground and swimming in hallowed waters in this work.

 

Marina Abramovic (Serbia, 1946)

Marina Abramovic, The Space In Between, 2016, film.

Marina Abramovic, The Space In Between, 2016, film.

 

Pina Bausch (German 1940-2009)

Pina Bausch, Nelken/ Carnations, 1982, dance.

Pina Bausch, Vollmond / Full Moon, 2006, dance.

 

Claude Cahun (France 1894-1954)

Claude Cahun, Autoportrait/ Self-Portrait, 1939, black and white photograph.

Claude Cahun, Autoportrait/ Self-Portrait, 1939, black and white photograph.

Claude Cahun, Autoportrait/ Self-Portrait, 1932, black and white photograph.

 

Maya Deren (Russian/ American 1917-1961)

Maya Deren, Ritual in Transfigured Time, 1946, film.

Maya Deren, At Land, 1944. film.

Maya Deren, At Land, 1944. film.

 

Valie Export (Austria 1940)

Valie Export, Homometer, 1973, performance.

Valie Export, Body Configurations, 1972-1976, performance.

 

Nan Goldin (American 1953)

Nan Goldin, Self-Portrait on a bridge at Golden River at Silver Hill, 1998, color photograph.

Nan Goldin, Geno by the Lake, Bavaria. 1994, color photograph.

Nan Goldin, Sharon in the River Eagles Mire, PA, 1995, color photograph.

 

Ana Mendieta (Cuban/American 1949-85)

Ana Mendieta, Untitled (Creek #2), 1974, film.

Ana Mendieta, Image from Yagul, 1973. Photograph.

 

 

Sherry Wiggins (photography by Luis Branco), Woman in the Canyon of the Bells/Mulheres no Pego do Sino, 2016, black and white photograph.

This image above Woman in the Canyon of the Bells/Mulheres no Pego do Sino, like the beginning image Woman on Evoramonte/Mulheres em Evoramonte, conveys the connection to the elemental landscape that I have experienced in Portugal. I will be continuing this practice in new works. I will also begin a new drawing practice related to these experiences of the elemental landscape. I leave September 18th for Portugal!