Nora Turato

i am happy to own my implicit biases (malo mrkva, malo batina) (2018–20) from Nora Turato (b. 1991, Zagreb) is a sound installation that employs a large black metal structure originally created for Manifesta 12 in Palermo, where it was presented in the Oratorio di San Lorenzo church. Reminiscent of a cage, a sports locker, or a confessional, this carceral environment has variously functioned as a stage for hosting Turato’s performances and at other times a bench for visitors to sit and engage in discussions. This iteration of the work is accompanied by a recording of the artist’s voice which is broadcast via a series of speakers mounted on top of the structure. The eponymous performance which forms the soundtrack to this work, takes the form of a fragmented dialogue. The script refers to the doñas de fuera (women from elsewhere), female spirits from Sicilian folklore that were said to be in contact with women accused of witchcraft under the Spanish Inquisition. This historical reference aligns with the artist’s continued reflection on the silencing of women in patriarchal societies, which notably takes shape through the frantic, loud and powerful female persona embodied in her performances.