captio kap.ti.o (capture). installation for "somethin missin'...somethin promised" at mint gallery

captio kap.ti.o (capture) curated by makeda lewis for "somethin missin'...somethin promised" at mint gallery.

through installation captio, the artist is meditating on the ambivalence and objectification of the female body and virginity, as for example in the state religion of ancient rome. the captio is dedicated to vestal virgins (vestālēs).

the captio means “capture” in latin. despite the powers and privileges granted to the vestal virgins, they were still living in a patriarchal society that controlled all aspects of their lives. as priestesses their main task was to guard the sacred flame in the temple of vesta, keeping the fire alight.

The choosing ceremony was known as a captio (capture). once a girl between 6 and 10 yo was chosen to be a vestal, the pontifex pointed to her and led her away from her parents with the words, "i take you, amata (“beloved”), to be a vestal priestess, who will carry out sacred rites which it is the law for a vestal priestess to perform on behalf of the roman people, on the same terms as her who was a vestal 'on the best terms' " (thus, with all the entitlements of a vestal). as soon as she entered the atrium of vesta's temple, she was under the goddess's service and protection.’

almost all vestal virgins were convicted and executed by the government.

for the scentscape of the sculpture used papier d'arménie - armenian paper incense which commonly used in churches, synthetic recreation of musk dear, earthy note by 2-ethyl-1,3,3-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-ol, castoreum blend, fecal note by 1-benzazole or indole.