Anasyrma (Black)
Anasyrma (Black)
2837
Anasyrma is effectively exposing the genitals as an act of protection and mystical power in religion, art and protest throughout history.
According to folklore, women lifted their skirts to chase off enemies in Ireland and China. A story from The Irish Times (September 23, 1977) reported a potentially violent incident involving several men, which was averted by a woman exposing her genitals to the attackers. In Balkan folklore, when it rained too much, women would run into the fields and lift their skirts to scare the gods and end the rain is another such example. Stripping away clothing was perceived as creating a "raw" state closer to nature than society, facilitating interaction with supernatural entities. Associated carvings to these quasi- spiritual ends, called Sheela Na Gigs, are common on medieval churches in northern Europe and the British Isles. We also see in some nations of Africa, a woman stripping naked and displaying herself is still considered a curse and a means to ward off evil. As women give life, they can take it away. In some parts of Nigeria, among other places, women invoked the curse only under the most extreme circumstances, and men who are exposed are considered dead. No one will cook for them, marry them, enter into any kind of contract with them or buy anything from them. The curse extends to foreign men as well, who will go impotent or suffer some great harm. There are some very recent publicised versions in Nigeria and Portland Oregan The former, during mass protests against the petroleum industry the latter as part of the BLM protests of 2020.
Hand-painted Jesmonite.
ED. /10
Signed by the Artist.
'Own Art' Option Available - Contact the gallery for further information.
Dimensions:
 reported a potentially violent incident involving several men, which was averted by a woman exposing her genitals to the attackers. In Balkan folklore, when it rained too much, women would run into the fields and lift their skirts to scare the gods and end the rain is another such example. Stripping away clothing was perceived as creating a "raw" state closer to nature than society, facilitating interaction with supernatural entities. Associated carvings to these quasi- spiritual ends, called Sheela Na Gigs, are common on medieval churches in northern Europe and the British Isles. We also see in some nations of Africa, a woman stripping naked and displaying herself is still considered a curse and a means to ward off evil. As women give life, they can take it away. In some parts of Nigeria, among other places, women invoked the curse only under the most extreme circumstances, and men who are exposed are considered dead. No one will cook for them, marry them, enter into any kind of contract with them or buy anything from them. The curse extends to foreign men as well, who will go impotent or suffer some great harm. There are some very recent publicised versions in Nigeria and Portland Oregan The former, during mass protests against the petroleum industry the latter as part of the BLM protests of 2020. Hand-painted Jesmonite.ED. /10Signed by the Artist.'Own Art' Option Available - Contact the gallery for further information.){kind=link}