Ruby's enchanted world

Ruby's enchanted world

Creative mix by Roberta Gotti

Menu

Skip to content
  • Home
  • About
  • Heroines
  • Jane Sadeian the play: a woman’s journey from disempowerment to empowerment
  • What myth fascinates you?
  • SKELETON WOMAN fairy tale: THEMES AND INSPIRATION

What myth fascinates you?

I have always been fascinated by the myth of ‘Leda and the Swan’ from Ovid’s metamorphosis. I performed my version of this ancient tale at a storytelling event in London as part of Fresh Blood and Guts project. A particular myth could have a meaningful message for us and our purpose.

The image of the swan is important to me because I associate it with memories and it’s a symbolic image in my own personal mythology. My father once showed me a building in my native town of Bologna in Italy called ‘Il Cigno Bianco’ (the White Swan) and told me that he first met my mother there.

It was a place where young people of his generation went to ballroom dances and my grandad, il Nonno Nino who had his own band, used to play the violin there.

Soon after their meeting , after dancing the waltz, my parents eloped together and got married.

The swan is beautiful, elegant and graceful, and it is said that the swan is a symbol of self love. In mythology Gods take the shape of swans and other animals often to lure women and nymphs.

In Ovid’s Metamorphosis Spartan queen Leda is seduced by Zeus under the guise of a swan. Her story is complex an full of many different facets and meanings.

Renaissance artists such as Leonardo and Michelangelo have been inspired by the myth. Leonardo da Vinci drawing depicts Leda in a setting where all creatures (human and animals) live in harmony but at the same time she appears indifferent to the knowledge of good and evil. Embracing the swan while twins are hatching at her feet. (Marina Warner-Hatching-fantastic Metamorphoses, Other Worlds)

In Modern art there is a version by Cy Twombly in the Museum of modern art in New York mixing eroticism and violence.

Avant Garde filmmaker Kurt Kren also made a film-performance version of the myth. And of course in poetry in a well known poem by William Butler Yeats combining psychological realism with a mystic vision and describing the swan’s rape of Leda.

The story of Leda breaks all the rules, a symbol of female carnality that goes against the conditioning of women and the restraint of sexuality. 

In my practice I often explore female sexuality and some of its manifestations. Below is a one of my drawings made in preparation for the performance piece.

drawing 29 X 19 cm

‘That which you behold is but a shadow of a reflected form’ (Ovid)

Sharing is caring

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • WhatsApp

Like this:

Like Loading...
Widgets

Instagram

Daffodils 🌼 symbol of spring and new beginning 🌼🌼
From my Archives Art installation in a pop up gallery London Shorts Gardens WC2 ‘ Lost Soles’ My piece is called ‘Double Comfort’ about the juxtaposition of the wide variety of roles that women play. Mixed Media For more of my art work www.rubysenchanteddrawings.Wordpress.com links in bio
Great news! Our animation short ‘Skeleton Woman’ has been selected for screening at ‘Lift off sessions 2021’ film festival 😀🎥❤️ @toycamerapaparazzi www.savageamusements.wordpress.com watch more of our films on youtube links in bio and on website
Calligraphy and drawing in pencil and coloured pencil 29 x 19 cm part of a new film I am working on
Wood nymph, a being of nature and dissected lavender flower, herbal medicine helps with anxiety and falling asleep. (Drawing pencil on paper 29x19 cm
work by @doctor_luke_dixon thank you 🙏 😍

Instagram

Daffodils 🌼 symbol of spring and new beginning 🌼🌼
From my Archives Art installation in a pop up gallery London Shorts Gardens WC2 ‘ Lost Soles’ My piece is called ‘Double Comfort’ about the juxtaposition of the wide variety of roles that women play. Mixed Media For more of my art work www.rubysenchanteddrawings.Wordpress.com links in bio
Great news! Our animation short ‘Skeleton Woman’ has been selected for screening at ‘Lift off sessions 2021’ film festival 😀🎥❤️ @toycamerapaparazzi www.savageamusements.wordpress.com watch more of our films on youtube links in bio and on website
Calligraphy and drawing in pencil and coloured pencil 29 x 19 cm part of a new film I am working on
Wood nymph, a being of nature and dissected lavender flower, herbal medicine helps with anxiety and falling asleep. (Drawing pencil on paper 29x19 cm
work by @doctor_luke_dixon thank you 🙏 😍

Roberta Gotti Facebook Page

Roberta Gotti Facebook Page

Upcoming Events

No upcoming events

Create a website or blog at WordPress.com
Cancel

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×
    Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
    To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
    %d bloggers like this: