Performed at the Garage at 370 Jay
Tools: Touchdesigner, Arduino, Ableton Live, Photoshop
Intrigued by the pomegranate's captivating taste, I embarked on a journey of exploration and delved into its rich cultural and religious significance. During my research, one question continually piqued my curiosity:
Why is this fruit often associated with women?
In Chinese and Japanese traditions, brides are presented with pomegranates on their wedding day as a symbol of fertility and the potential for a fruitful marriage. Turkish brides, on the other hand, predict the number of children they will have by smashing a pomegranate and observing the sprouting seeds.
In a famous medieval painting called "A Unicorn under Captivity," a unicorn rests beneath a pomegranate tree, confined by a small fence. Its wounds bleed pomegranate juice, yet the unicorn appears content and oblivious to its predicament. This artwork is believed to be a metaphor for women in the context of marriage.
Pomegranate is also associated with beauty. What does it mean to age, and what does it mean to age gracefully. In Persian culture, the color of pomegrante is like the color of adorable lips and cheeks, representing eternal beauty.
In Buddhism, pomegranates hold significance as one of the three blessed fruits. The Buddha presented a pomegranate to Harita, guiding her back onto the right path when she had lost her way. Harita later became the mother of children, but prior to receiving the pomegranate, she had consumed children.
An ancient Egyptian proverb states, "Eat a pomegranate and visit a bath; your youth will haste back." Additionally, pomegranates were often buried alongside the deceased, symbolizing the hope for a second life.
The whole performance is a designed theatrical act with improvisation.