The artwork delves into the Babylonian creation epic Enuma Elish, depicting the storm god Marduk brutally slaying his grandmother, the goddess Tiamat, and creating the world and heaven. According to scholars such as Joseph Campbell and Robert Graves, the killing of Tiamat by Marduk symbolizes a transition from a matriarchal society to a patriarchal order. The work draws inspiration from the following quote in Campbell’s book “Goddesses: Mysteries of the Feminine Divine”: “If Marduk had waited a couple of minutes, Tiamat would have created on her own (...)
Tiamat truly turns into the world; she gives her body voluntarily but is represented as if Marduk were doing it.” This conflict forms the fundamental dynamics of the work. As the artist, I question traditional mythological narratives, presenting an alternative universe where creation is not achieved by a masculine force but by the goddess of primordial waters, Tiamat herself. Inherently employing the moving lenticular printing technique, my artwork seeks to rewrite herstory, aiming to create a new understanding of the sacred, while also offering a fresh perspective on the ancient narratives and culture of Mesopotamia. It celebrates and remembers the creation of the universe and heaven by the sublime Tiamat repeatedly.
