In the Mouth of Chimaera (2014)

This site-specific installation exhibition emerged from a research and project development residency near Mount Chimaera at Cirali-Antalya, on the southern coast of Turkey.   Over the course of 20 days, Book explored the area that purportedly was the origin of the Chimaera myth, though there are at least a dozen other sites around that part of the Mediterranean called Mt. Chimaera.  The Turks call this particular location, Yarnartas, translated into English as flaming stones. Remnants of shifting cultural claims include a small Hellenic Greek temple at the site.  

In addition to shooting video, recording audio, writing and taking photographs, Book created a body of visual and material works.  “In the Mouth of Chimaera” was a public exhibition that incorporated her entire live-work studio into a staging area giving evidence of her expeditions.  The exhibition included drawings made from watercolor, ink, pencil and installations made from found furniture, natural materials, printed cultural materials, digital audio and video loops.

Origins of the Chimera or Chimaera figure are lost to time.  One theory is quasi-geologic in that the Mt. Chimaera site near the artist residency was a ‘fire-breathing’ mountain due to an underground methane gas deposit.  The gas combusts on contact with the air as it continuously escapes through rocky crevasses.  Accordingly, the narrative morphed into an unholy and elusive beast - part lion, part goat, part serpent. The creature further transmogrified into a she-monster as recorded in medieval manuscripts and remains a sign of the mysterious, dangerous and elusive feminine.  

This residency was followed by a 2 week residency in Berlin at SomoS where Book created a performance installation project by the same name.  The performance included text and audio material that she created in the Turkey residency, as well as the video, “Escapes”, playing as a single channel loop for the duration of the exhibition.  Additional elements included a large mirror, a cuckoo clock and red feathers.  These exhibition, video and performance elements are part of the larger, multi-year project by Book called “Unreading for Future Bodies”.  Video footage that the artist shot in Turkey will compose the second video in “Unreading…” titled, “Derangements”.