THE GIFT

2014

Video performance by Marta Lodola in collaboration with Valerio Ambiveri, Video Color Stereo 15 min 49 sec. Materials: chains (total weight 40 Kg), repetition.

This project was born as a public performance for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in 2012. I performed “Senza titolo” in the public square of Milan, Colonne di San Lorenzo, in the event “Con i tuoi occhi”, supported by CHAN Association and curated by Francesca Guerisoli.

This project was born as a public performance for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in 2012. I performed “Untitled” in the public square of Milan, Colonne di San Lorenzo, during the event “Con i tuoi occhi” (With your eyes), supported by CHAN Association and curated by Francesca Guerisoli.

When a woman is in a toxic relationship, it is not easy to become aware of that. The abusive person often tries to remedy violent behaviours with gifts and excuses, in order to create a psychological bond in which the victim is not able to clearly understand to be actually in danger. Breaking the circle, asking for help, recognizing to be in an abusive relationship could be shocking. The only way to escape is leaving. There is no choice.

The gesture of giving a gift is repeated 14 times. Each gift is a necklace made of chain, and each of them weights more than the previous one. I receive each necklace after bending over until I touch the floor with my face and stand up again, ready to receive the next one. The total weight of the chains reaches almost my body weight (48 Kg). After receiving all of them, I fall down on the floor, finding the way to leave the chains behind.

still from video