Katabasis
Alexandra Clod - analogue photography, poem
Matthew O’Toole - sound
2023
Katabasis combines the symbolism and meanings of ancient Greek mythology with modern industrial objects from miners' lives from both England and Ukraine.
In my research, I was curious – what does this action of going underground mean? It reminded me of the Greek concept of ‘katabasis’ – the journey to the underworld, a realm of the unknown which is sacred in all myths throughout the continents; going there is the transforming thing itself, a hero’s journey, a challenge that changes all the course of the history.
Following the Greek legend of changing seasons, winter exists because Persephone spends six months underground in the kingdom of her husband Hades.
Accordingly, when winter comes there is a need to get some coal in order to warm the house. Through the lens of ancient myth, I wanted to imagine what offerings could be made to Persephone, Queen of the Underworld – to make her kind and allow a miner, an industrial hero, to get some coal from the underworld?
Coal has played a significant role in the development of our civilization. Nowadays coal is still on the stage, in Ukraine more than 140 mines are functioning and there are many mining regions across Europe.
I reflect on the idea of coal as a gift of nature, and by surgically placing it on the table among fruits and flowers, I want viewers to stop and think about the ethical aspect of the human relationship to nature. I believe, if we were saving the syncretic mythological mindset and respect for Mother Earth, we would not be the most harmful species on this planet.
Katabasis photo series explores the mythological aspect of coal mining, arranging still-life scenes as ritual offerings that could be made underground in order to align the coal extraction process with the gods' will.
Who has seen Persephone? Audio Poem
Poem by Alexandra Clod
Read: Alexandra Clod
Sound production: Matthew O’Toole
