Sergey Sarva (1973, Kryvyi Rih, Ucraine)

In the series Ogoniok, Sarva transforms and deforms the covers of an important soviet magazine, bringing characters from politics and public figures to some kind of freaks part dead part alive, revelaing certain monstrosities perpetuated by the communist regime. He starteed working on his painting techniques using his family's photographs.

Enrico Baj (1924-2003, Milano, Italy)

 Enrico Baj, defenitely pushed the envelope in his time, along with the artist Sergio Dangelo, he founded the Nuclear art Movement in Italy. That is how they managed to manifest their reject to all kinds of artistic as well as political movements at the time. He went back to the basics: Breton. and the surrealists, as well as child like freedom of expression, and he started working on this crafted figures, using very day to day materials and geometrical designs that somehow became iconoclastic figures of women. Later he worked on actual puppets.

 Very Interesting article in The Hufftington Post : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/31/venice-biennale-2013-celebrates-the-outsider_n_3364798.html


Haitian Vodou Flags

Vodou traditions in the Caribbean come from the African culture, however under the colonialism it merges into a syncretic gathering of European and African religious imaginary.

This sparkling flags were used in Vodou ceremonies to attract the spirits and entities being invoked, to occupy the bodies of the devotees. Most of the four haitian Vodou flags have catholic, massonic and African symbols, maritime lore and the ritual designs veve mixed in a piece. Each Ioa (gods represented in the flags) has a specific character and function, like in a set of tarot cards, and they have a certain set of attributes that may be depicted with a dagger, a boat or a bird.

Dambala, the creator is usually represented by snakes, he is the life giver, the one who provides fertility and rain. he and other Iouas can be help for people who need council or advice and other gods like Erzulie Freda can bring rage and lust, flirts with men and hates all women. This incredibly rich mixture of cultures and religious iconography from Africa to the Caribbean, through Europe.

Comming from slavery, colonialism and ancient rituals, brings up a somehow unheard history of the development of religion in this long time European colonies. Some of this rituals are still practiced all around the world, but its roots stand strong in Africa and the caribbean Islands, Santeria, practiced in Cuba is another clear example of African- European syncretism.