Unravelling Frequencies

Vile Blood

Introduction scroll to continue ⭢

The Execution Pillars of Vicosoprano

The Swiss Alpine village of Vicosoprano (Bregaglia Valley) stands out as one of the few locations where public spaces still contain infrastructure related to witch hunts.

Stigma diabolicum

The artist engaged in discussions with Daniele Papacella, Prof. Claudia Opitz-Belakhal, Prof. Brugger, and Dr. Gloor about topics such as torture and the search for the stigma diabolicum, or devil's mark. The installation features a reproduction of the device used to identify this mark, which was employed to strip accused individuals of their humanity.

„...von Excrementen die sie Menstruum heissen / dem kein Gifft auff Erden gleichen mag / schädlicher vnd strenger (...) da nichts schädlichers innen ist / als diß Excrement der Frawen.“
> *„...from excrements which they call menstruum / which no poison on earth can resemble / more harmful and more severe (...) since there is nothing more harmful / than this blood excrement of women.“

Opus Paramirum, Liber quartus de Matrice, 1531.
Paracelsus, physician and philosopher

„...daß das Gift im Blute zirkuliert, ist also sichergestellt (...) Diese Tatsache ist deswegen interessant, weil wir damit rechnen müssen, daß das Gift in alle Organe gelangen kann; interessanterweise wird es dann mit dem Schweiße in der Haut ausgeschieden.“*
*„...it is therefore confirmed that the poison circulates in the blood (...) This fact is interesting because we have to assume that the poison can get into all organs; Interestingly enough, it is then excreted with sweat through the skin.“

Das Menstruationsgift, Wiener Klinische Wochernschrift, 1920
Prof. Dr. Béla Schick, Immunologist

Toxic Blood

The artist conducted a personal experiment inspired by the supposed toxic nature of menstrual blood, a subject also explored in conversations with Prof. Claudia Opitz-Belakhal, Prof. Peter Brugger, and Dr. Andrea Gloor.

Archive-in-Process

The artist meticulously amassed seismic audio recordings and organic specimens throughout her in situ investigations conducted at multiple sites in Switzerland, where historical bloodshed associated with the persecution of purported witches occurred. The archive that has been compiled thus far is exhibited as an installation comprising this website, which incorporates interviews and a diverse array of research materials, the Infrasonic Soundscape, and the sculptural series entitled Archaeology of Impurity. The seismic audio recordings are prominently featured within the Infrasonic Soundscape and are also presented in distinct compositions within the interview segments.

The slideshow shows (1) a latex sculpture that encapsulates the replica of Guglia, the contraption employed for the identification of the devil through blood analysis; (2) dungeon wall in the Pretorio Vicosoprano upon which individuals accused of witchcraft were suspended by their arms; (3) torture chamber of the Pretorio Vicosoprano; (4) specimens of soil and organic matter procured from the site of the execution pillars in Vicosoprano; (5) a perspective from the Aula Magna (Château de Chillon) where the witch trials were conducted; (6) torture pillar in the Château de Chillon; (7) the spires of the Basel Minster, as observed from the artist's studio; (8) the hillside and recreational area Le Guintzet (Fribourg), where numerous individuals accused of witchcraft faced execution; (9) the artist holding one of the vials containing her 'menotoxic' blood.

Archaeology of Impurity

A continuing series incorporates diverse organic substances connected to the age-old myth that women's blood is noxious and vile. This enduring notion was not only common in traditional lore but also endorsed by the Swiss Renaissance doctor Paracelsus and subjected to scientific inquiry, though never confirmed, until the early 1980s. The supposed poisonous nature of menstrual blood was believed to be a gas permeating the entire female body during menstruation, a toxin so potent that it could be transmitted through contact. Liquid latex shares this alleged primary toxic element, making it an ideal medium for preserving various organic materials associated with the so-called impurity of female blood, including 'menotoxic' blood extracted from the artist's arm during her menstrual cycle, as well as plants and soils gathered from locations in Switzerland where alleged witches were put to death. The installation's dim lighting, blending UV light with natural daylight, emphasizes the superstitions surrounding these truly toxic beliefs. Credit photos: Installation views of Swiss Art Awards 2024.

Infrasonic Soundscape

The installation incorporates a wooden floor activated by infrasound, primarily consisting of frequencies below 20 Hz that are imperceptible to human ears. This component is based on seismic audio recordings from various Swiss locations where the blood of alleged witches was shed, including torture chambers, execution sites, and prison cells. Drawing inspiration from neuroscientific research aimed at inducing 'haunting' experiences in test subjects using frequencies around 7 Hz, the artist employs specialized speakers to transmit these typically inaudible sound waves through the wooden floor via vibrations. This technique serves to create a sense that the numerous forgotten victims of Swiss witch persecutions are 'haunting' the exhibition space. These subtle vibrations function as a narrative device, addressing this dark and unresolved chapter in Swiss history. The installation is supplemented by headphones that play the audible range of these on-site recordings. Credit photo: Installation view of Swiss Art Awards 2024.


Infrasonic Soundscape, extract