Dryads of Cosquer
29 August–30 October 2024
“Roots to Routes” curators Merilin Talumaa and Justė Kostikovaitė are happy to present “Dryads of Cosquer,” a three-part collaboration featured in the Lithuanian Culture Season in France 2024. The programme includes an exhibition and artist residency, a screening and discussion, and a performance. It highlights works by Baltic and international contemporary artists influenced by the heritage of Marija Gimbutas.
“Archaeological materials are not mute. They speak their own language. And they need to be used for the great source they are to help unravel the spirituality of those of our ancestors who predate the Indo-Europeans by many thousands of years.” ― Marija Gimbutas
“A serious and continuous obstacle in the study of ancient societies is the indolent assumption that they must have resembled our own… the existence of ‘a different world’ is the hardest thing to admit.” ― Marija Gimbutas, The Civilization of the Goddess
American-Lithuanian scholar Marija Gimbutas (1921-1994) proposed that a peaceful, nature-worshiping matristic society existed in the late Neolithic period in the Mediterranean region. This society, centered around a female Goddess, was known for its advanced sign language, ceramics, and extensive trade networks. Inspired by Gimbutas’ cultural legacy, a three-partite project in Marseille has been conceived. This collaboration nods towards the feminist myth of the founder of Marseille and draws connections to the Cave Cosquer, highlighting the prehistoric drive for creativity and probing the essence of reality.
In these challenging times, merely exploring a feminist and ecological vision requires immense courage. Proposing that humans might coexist harmoniously with one another and all forms of life is often dismissed as naïve. Yet, Marija Gimbutas’ assertion that such a harmonious existence predates patriarchy—and that patriarchy is “only 5,000 years old”—is a vital perspective that demands attention.
The exhibition “Dryads of Cosquer” will feature works by Baltic and international artists. These works draw from the Mediterranean notion of the Old Europe theory and the unique character of La Traverse gallery, whose design evokes water-friendly environments. Located near Malmousque Beach, the gallery will showcase a diverse range of art that extrapolates from ecological, feminist, and ritualistic themes, forming a cosmology of ideas that directly and indirectly reflect Gimbutas’ theories. The exhibition emphasizes the matristic organization of peaceful society and the worship of nature—celebrating earth, sky, and water as potent life forces.
In addition to the exhibition, La Traverse hosted artist Kristina Õllek for a residency this April, during which she collaborated on research with the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography. Art-O-Rama, Marseille international contemporary art fair, will feature a screening of Emilija Skarnulytė’s video works “Æqualia” (2023) and “Xirasia” (2023).
Skarnulytė herself refers to these pieces as her “Goddess works,” offering viewers a profound exploration of themes related to nature, femininity, and spirituality. The project will culminate with a performance “ME/TWO, WE, THE CLIQUE” by Low Air embodying the acts of conflict resolution and inviting audiences to contemplate the power of unity and collective action in overcoming adversity.
Gimbutas’ legacy has had a profound impact on both scientific fields and cultural movements, inspiring many artists and writers. Her 1970s publications on ancient symbols and Goddess images were seminal for the seminal feminist artists in North America, including Mary Beth Edelson, who performed a ritual-based piece in Grapčeva cave, and Judy Chicago, who featured Gimbutas’ Goddess figures in her iconic installation “The Dinner Party.” Today,
Gimbutas’ theories are being reevaluated and celebrated in the context of the climate emergency and decolonial emancipation, challenging prevailing historical perceptions.
