JUDIT KIS

Judit Kis is an intermedia artist, who studied fine art and curating at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts in Budapest and at the Chelsea College of Art and Design in London. Her performative videos and virtual diaries reflect on the experiences and traumas that shape our identities, personal boundaries, and behavioral patterns. Her practice combines digital content with installations of objects and often expands into participatory performances and community engagements. Currently she is pursuing a doctoral degree to explore the social impact of self-defining and self-revealing performances with a focus on self-care, mental health, and alternative healing methodologies.

SURRENDER

• 2021

• 10:00

• video with animation

The videos entitled Surrender are based on my research that explores the use of plant medicine as a healing method within indigenous cultures and in our current societies. Sacred plants have been powerful and sustainable tools for hundreds of years, curing mental and physical illnesses. Traditionally the plants are collected with great respect for nature and are used in group ceremonies with the guidance of a shaman. Through the pandemic many people suffered from the impact of the Covid-19 disease, and since we are living in a climate crisis, I think it’s important to talk about how we can connect with nature to heal our traumas individually and most importantly collectively. In order to share my experience with the plants called Mother, Father and Pastora, and to speak about their positive impact on my healing journey, I recorded these video performances and monologues in 2021 in Mexico. To enhance the visual experience of the videos, I collaborated with visual artist Gábor Karcis who animated the background for the curved screen.