The Siren's Scream

The Siren’s Scream is a multi-channel moving image work inspired by the paintings of Leonora Carrington. This grotesque parable evolves through visions triggered by female trauma, motherhood, and the right to choose.

The neo-primitive style quotes the work of the film surrealist Ulrika Ottinger. Niemczyk’s hand-made scenography and work with natural/amateur actors conjures a make-believe aura. In the magical reality of this world, a girl with a disability - or rather a superpower - that makes her dangerous to herself and others, is left by her biological mother at a “window of mercy.” She is soon adopted by the vicious queen of a society that exploits its underclass of bird-women, forcing them to lay and relinquish their eggs.

Made with the crew and community of Bandits-Mages in Bourges, France, The Siren’s Scream is dedicated to our Polish sisters, as its phantasy theme reflects the outrage over women’s rights abuses happening in contemporary Poland.

This work was realised within the framework of the European Media Art Platforms (EMAP) programme at Antre Peaux (ex Bandits Mages) (FR) with support of the Creative Europe Culture Programme of the European Union.