The Enchanting Offering
Decolonising Malta: Polyphony Is Us
Malta Biennale
2024
The Holy Wounds, 2024, Acrylic paint on steel, silicone, and mixed media, dimensions variable
The Enchanting Offering, 2024, Single channel video, color, stereo, 02’30” (loop)
In The Enchanting Offering, a new narrative unfolds, weaving an expansive queer story across cultural realms governed by the imperatives of the superego, including sadomasochism, religion, and idol culture. Grounded in meticulous research, the project seeks to construct a queer narrative that navigates the compelling territory between the bizarre and the sublime, a dynamic frequently observed in both religious contexts and popular culture.
At the centre of the project is a video work that examines the concluding moments of K-pop idol performances. Known as the “Ending Fairy,” the final pose struck by a K-pop idol embodies a paradoxical combination of the bizarre and the divine. Sweat streaming down the face, laboured breathing, and enigmatic expressions create a distinctive visual space in which sacredness and eroticism coexist.
This imagery suggests a thought-provoking parallel between the idols appearing in “Ending Fairy” scenes and the saints depicted in religious paintings. In particular, Christian iconography portraying the suffering and resurrection of Jesus can be understood as a religious counterpart to the “Ending Fairy.”
Artistic Director: Sofia Baldi Pighi
Curatorial Team: Elisa Carollo and Emma Mattei
Commissioned by maltabiennale.art 2024
Photo by Julian Vassal