My Body Lies in the Shadows
Danielle Casado
The “Evil Witch” stereotype derives from a long history of women’s oppression, beginning from the witch hunts of 15th-century Europe. Patriarchal norms defined a woman’s worth by her ability to work, marry, and bear children. Women who were unmarried, childless, outspoken or political were often accused, solely because they did not conform. Queer and disabled women faced a subsequent reality; they may not be able to, nor wish, to be a part of this societal standard. By that historical logic, they, too, become “witches.”
My Body Lies In The Shadows is a shadow art installation that explores the intersectionality of “the witch” within queer and disabled feminine identities. The installation is designed in an interactive dark room, with acrylic stands positioned throughout the floor and walls. Images and text embedded in the acrylic must be seen by shining a flashlight through them. Participants must physically conform into uncomfortable positions in order to see the work. This symbolizes not only the discomfort felt by queer/disabled women socially, but also the discomfort of being confronted with a history of dehumanization and prejudice. The use of light and shadows itself is a process of unveiling hidden realities; by shining a light on the work, the viewer discovers and pieces together a narrative about a disabled woman, Mary, and her secret lover Cynthia.
The installation highlights a generational pressure for queer and disabled women to contort themselves into what society deems worthy of a woman, all while their issues continue to remain invisible.