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LILITH
○ pam
Birthday celebration where I embody Lilith—the sinner—and the first feminist figure of Judeo-Christian mythology. In the form of a happening centering around the Mexican piñata, I create a reclaiming narrative of the Garden of Eden.
2018
Format mixed-media happening
Media performance, spoken word, food and drinks, riso printed posters, digital printed invites, papel picado (laser cut decorations), fake flowers and candles, costumes (textiles), piñata (newspaper)
Concept, narrative, creation, planning, graphics design/print/laser-cut, costumes, and piñata by pamela varela
Piñata with Nik Magris
Narrative and costumes with Maarten Keus, Leyla-Nour Benouniche, Marlot Meyer
Performers
LILITH pamela varela
ADAM Maarten Keus
EVE Leyla-Nour Benouniche
SNAKE Marlot Meyer
Special thanks to all the attendees, Johan Gustavsson and ella hebendanz :)
Pictures by Jeremy Raider
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LILITH is the first feminist figure of the Judeo-Christian religions. She is the free woman, who refused to be subservient to Adam and, therefore, was demonized. This is who I want to be in my birthday party. And we will break Adam.
Lilith is a female demonic figure of Jewish folklore with Mesopotamian roots. According to the "Alphabet of Ben Sira", she was the first wife of Adam, made from the same soil. Refusing to be subservient to him, Lilith left Adam and the Garden of Eden. God, then, created Eve from Adam's rib — a woman who would always be below him.
Sources: Britannica, Jewish Women’s Archive
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I organized a party for my birthday as a happening inspired by my country Mexico, which is a place of celebration but also vastly Catholic and highly discriminatory for women.
The piñata is a Mexican artifact that is hit during celebrations. A common occasion is during children’s birthday parties, where the child chooses a popular character and embodies it by wearing its costume. Additionally, there is an activity/ritual where all the kids hit a piñata of the same character; it is made of newspaper. At some point, the piñata breaks, and the kids collect its candies.
However, piñatas are originally a Christmas’ celebrations (Posadas) object. On that occasion, the piñata is traditionally made of clay and looks like a decorated star, which represents temptation. It has seven picks, which represent the seven sins. The person who hits it wears a blindfold, which represents faith. Breaking the piñata symbolizes blindly believing in God and overcoming the temptation of being sinful. When it is broken, what comes out of it are fruits. This is the reward you receive for beating sins.
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I created a narrative inspired by the Garden of Eden which included eating apples and drinking bloody womb wine, the breaking of Adam’s piñata, Eve reading empowering poetry by Gertrude Stein, and the snake seducing everyone.
This piñata came bearing gifts for sinful kids like us: condoms, make-up, lingerie, and more.
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When I was little, I had parties with piñatas of the Disney princesses. Dreams change... Now I want to be LILITH.
Pic by Luis Soria