Multimedia Installation: Multichannel video, single channel audio, paper
15 minutes
20 x 20 x 10 feet / 610 x 610 x 305 cm
2015

La Histœria is a stop-motion video installation that explores the intricate relationship between history and power. Like history itself, the piece is marked by a deliberate, non-linear narrative—a series of fragmented moments that mirror the selective memory of historical accounts. Set in a surreal and distorted interiors rooms reminiscent of German Expressionism, La Histœria unfolds in black and white. As viewers step into the initial lobby, they become participants in the unfolding drama. Other 'prostitutes' make contact with them, mirroring the way history often solicits and seduces those who engage with it. They stand in their respective room's doorway, a voyeur and a witness to the unfolding tableau.

At the heart of the installation, a pivotal scene unfolds. History, personified as a sensuous and enigmatic figure, sits across from her clients—powerful figures from various domains, including religion, economics, politics, and the military. She takes up a book and a pen, and as her clients dictate their desires, she transcribes their version of events onto the pages of history. The act is both a transaction and an act of ecstasy, highlighting the control that these powerful figures exert over historical narratives.

La Histœria is a response to the unsettling phrases uttered by victors and those in power, who have likened history to a prostitute they can pay and manipulate to secure their place in the annals of time. Through its distorted lens, the piece challenges us to confront the unsettling parallels between history as a controlled narrative and the very real impact of those who shape it. This artwork invites viewers to question the agency of history and the forces that shape it. It challenges us to examine who controls the narratives we inherit and how these narratives influence our understanding of the past, present, and future. "La Histœria" is an exploration of the power dynamics that shape our collective memory and our place within it.