Devoted Self
A ritual, a portal, a deep excavation of the self. The value of what we call experience can open the doors to our true essence. Arcane Portals was a journey inward—toward origin, belonging, and transformation.
These images form part of that journey—my contribution to the documentation of a creative process that culminated in performances inhabiting the spaces of Coopeland Gallery during the Future Rituals Festival, London, on April 26, 2025. Over the course of 90 minutes, the actions unfolded as a living score, beginning and ending with collective interactions.
The full ritual spoke of passage: a symbolic crossing, a purification with nettle leaves, and a deliberate descent into the unknown within the self. Through this confrontation, a raw, visceral strength could emerge—something ancient, embodied, and newly reclaimed.
Marta Lodola, Arcane Portals: an intensive co-creation with VestAndPage, 2025. Future Ritual: CEREMONY. Photo by Fenia Kotsopoulou.