kambriel

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Photographer: Rebekah Boyle
Model : Wednesday Mourning
Wardrobe: Kambriel

This image personifying "Medea" is the first from what will be an epic series of photographic art inspired by numerous goddesses and female legends from ancient times, inhabiting the world of magic and myth:

~ Kambriel

[Kambriel.com ~ Etsy ~ Twitter ~ Tumblr ~ Facebook]

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From:

aneke.livejournal.com

i love the image--

BUT i am disappointed by the intention. and surprised no mythology buffs mentioned it here, either. I feel strongly that Medea was not the villianess portrayed here, someone who seems to be looking forward to inflicting cruel death.

Ok, true she DID murder her children, but she certainly didn't do so with a dark pout on her face. as misguided and wrong as it was she felt forced to do so to end her painful relationship with Jason.

in the most famous treatment of Medea, Euripedes' play of the same name, she is portrayed (in some passages surprisingly sympathetically) as a heroine gone-bad, thanks in no-small part to Jason being a complete jerk. She is a complex and reluctant villian, misguided by love and fate.

It's hard to explain. The only thing that comes close is Nicole Kidman in "The Others," where you almost feel sorry for her character. But it seems wrong to portray the crime like she's some crazy Elizabeth Bathory. in fact i'd have to re-read the Euripedes text, but i think she was crying when she did it.

but yes, love the image.

From:

aneke.livejournal.com

OK I re-read the murder scenes. There isn't any indication that she's crying per se and it's off stage:

"O heart of mine, steel thyself! Why do I hesitate to do the awful deed that must be done? Come, take the sword, thou wretched hand of mine! Take it, and advance to the post whence starts thy life of sorrow! Away with cowardice! Give not one thought to thy babes, how dear they are or how thou art their mother. This one brief day forget thy children dear, and after that lament; for though thou wilt slay them yet they were thy darlings still, and I am a lady of sorrows."

From:

kambriel.livejournal.com

Art can be a very sensitive thing when it deals with "capturing" such strong persona's because so much is linked to the legends. I imagine it's a lot like when an actor has to play someone that has reached a mythical or sacred stature in people's hearts... it is an energy that is interpreted, but not repeated.

I think you might prefer this image - it shows more of the sadness and reluctance. There are actually many others, the original photo was just one of the very first previews I received from the shoot. I sincerely appreciate your thoughts and care for this, especially for wanting to do honour to the feminine spirit!

From:

aneke.livejournal.com

First of all, I am SO sorry I completely went off in YOUR journal! I don't know what came over me...
and I didn't even say how lovely the clothes are! I also love the styling. Did you have a separate make-up person or did you, the model or photographer do?

You are right about the image-- I do prefer! Because there is deliberation for the horrible act. I can almost see her turning go into the house...

Again, I don't know what my problem was! We artist types are so overly emotional. Maybe I was having my own Medea moment: "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."The image is definitely provocative, as look at the strong reaction it produced in me. And that is part of good art.

I also think you perceived something else that I didn't explicitly say-- that by my coming out as a raving apologist for Medea, in some weird way I was defending the honour of women's role in our cultural collectiveness. Interesting.

From:

kambriel.livejournal.com

Not to worry one bit! You can speak your mind with me :)

Wednesday did her own makeup for the shoot. She's a lovely, and brilliant gal ~ this series was her idea, and she's really putting a lot of heart, soul and thought into it. I think this will be a very inspiring series when it's complete, and hope it may get those who are currently unfamiliar with these personas more interested in learning more about who they were and what they represent.