A BELT.
A RITUALISED PERFORMANCE OF MALE AUTHORITY.
A SYMBOL OF POWER AND AGGRESSION.
A FORM OF ‘DISCIPLINE’ IN THE MEMORY OF THE ARTIST.
THESE BELTS, WORN BY MEN IN THE 1990S IN ALGERIA, FORM THE ENTIRE CANVAS. THE WORD “SHAYTAN” (ARABIC: ‘DEVIL’) IS IMPRINTED ON A SILVER LEATHER BELT BUCKLE.
THE WORD WAS USED AS PART OF THE RITUAL TO SIGNAL ANGER AND AGGRESSION.
LANGUAGE AND OBJECT CONVERGE:
THE WORD NAMES THE FORCE WHILE THE BELT PERFORMS IT.
IN THIS RITUAL, A BELT WAS REMOVED FROM THE WAIST, SNAPPED IN THE AIR, ITS LEATHER CUTTING THROUGH SILENCE LIKE A WARNING. A WAY FOR MEN TO SHOW THEIR STRENGTH AND PRACTICE THEIR AUTHORITY IN A MASCULINE HIERCHARCHY.
FREEDOM IS GAINED BY REJECTING PERFORMED RITUALS OF MASCULINITIES. REFUSING INHERITED GESTURES AND CHOOSING NOT TO REPEAT THEM.