(dis)respect
This work deals with the boundaries between pure and impure, respect and disrespect. (dis)respect is a video work that shows a woman eating Eucharist wafers and gulping down communion wine. The wine and the wafers are symbolic of the body and blood of Christ. The figure is over-indulging in eating the wafers, which is linked to the over-indulgence of religious rights. After a while, the figure starts to gag and spit out the chewed up and soggy wafers. The gustatory response is a mechanism that protects one from unpalatable food, or in this case ensures the safety of one from indoctrination. The figure can be seen forcing the chewed-up wafers back into her mouth after having expelled it from her throat, thereby forcefully accepting something. This is also symbolic of people in my family forcing their beliefs down my throat, restricting me from making my own decisions. Sound is used to make viewers uncomfortable. The sound of chewing and swallowing in itself becomes abject.
In addition, the video makes reference to respectful and disrespectful modes of conduct. Altar servers are supposed to wear their hair up, have clean nails and natural looking makeup. The figure adheres to only one rule by having her hair tied back, but her nails are painted black and her makeup is over exaggerated. The figure is thus crossing the boundary, but at the same time not. By drinking out of a bottle instead of a chalice, the figure is being disrespectful and, in a sense, befouling the body and blood of Christ. The video is in purple. Purple (in the Catholic faith) is symbolic of hope and sorrow.
- Catia Alfonso
- (dis)respect
- 2020
- Video Art
