VENUS TOTEM

Daniela Szeoke. Venus Totem. 2021. Polychrome Ceramic, 8 x 15 in.

As a Venezuelan-Hungarian with Indigenous background, I have always been drawn to Indigenous sculptures and artifacts from North and South America. Primarily, I feel drawn to Pre-Columbian anthropomorphic vessels made in terracotta. What interests me about these functional pieces is that they are also humorous caricatures of people who lived hundreds and thousands of years ago. 

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Since I was born in Canada, I have additionally been exposed to fascinating characters depicted in Northwest Coast totem poles made by local Indigenous groups. The personality of the totem characters has similarly interested me since I was a child because they have a dreamlike and fantastical quality.

I merged features from North and South American Indigenous artwork to create an unconventional sculptural form. This project allowed me to materialize the idea of transculturation, which connects strongly to my multicultural identity and personal experience with Canada’s cultural mosaic. Additionally, this project allows viewers to encounter unfamiliar forms that highlight the similarities and differences between various Indigenous art styles.