Ayrson Heráclito
O sacudimento da Casa da Torre e o sacudimento da maison des esclaves em Gorée
O sacudimento da Casa da Torre e o sacudimento da maison des esclaves em Gorée
Still: Courtesy of the artist
Collection
Two-channel video, color, sound
8 min 38 sec.
TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Collection
Dressed in traditional simple starched white clothing, Ayrson Heráclito stands with two men, also clad in white, as they prepare for a Candomblé cleansing ritual. After they carefully prepared the sacred items, the pemba (a fine white powder), material offerings, and incense, Heráclito begins the cleansing, which serves as both purification and exorcism. Using sacred leaves, he assists the oguns (spirits) and the deceased move peacefully out of the space where they have been trapped. The three men perform rhythmic, powerful movements throughout the space—beating arcades, doors, windows, and hidden corners. Their concentrated and reverent actions echo centuries of collective healing from the traumas of dispossession and slavery.
O sacudimento da Casa da Torre e o sacudimento da Maison des Esclaves em Gorée [The Purification of the Tower House and the Purification of the Maison des Esclaves in Gorée] is a profound and powerful cleansing ceremony that bridges two continents, addressing the deep scars left by the Atlantic slave trade. This ritual begins with the purification of the Maison des Esclaves on Gorée Island in Senegal, a notorious site of immense suffering connected to colonial history and the transatlantic slave trade. Gorée Island, once a key departure point for enslaved Africans, symbolizes the brutal journey of the Middle Passage, where millions were forcibly transported to the Americas under horrific conditions. Following the purification in Senegal, the focus shifts to a house in Bahia, once owned by a prominent landlord and enslaver of Indigenous people. Built of stone and lime, Casa da Torre, a fort erected in colonial times, is also a repository of a dark history of exploitation and oppression, reflecting the deep-rooted impact of slavery in the Americas.
In the context of Candomblé, a syncretic African-matrix religion that blends African traditions brought to Brazil with Catholicism, these acts of healing are vital. The plants used in these rituals, with names like “path opener,” “battle winner,” and “knock it all down,” are imbued with ancestral lore and resonate with universal themes of resistance, resilience, and renewal. Heráclito explains that the ritual addresses the legacy of colonization and enslavement, which continues to affect communities in both Bahia and Africa. It confronts the ongoing issues of racism, inequality, and poverty faced by Black populations worldwide, aiming to heal and reconcile with this painful history.
The act of bridging continents and histories becomes even more profound when the healing and reparation are carried out through the ancient practices of Yoruba culture. By performing sacred rituals to cleanse the detention castle on Gorée Island and the house in Bahia, this process symbolizes a collective acknowledgment of past atrocities and a commitment to healing. It not only honors the memory of those who suffered but also paves the way for a future rooted in justice, reconciliation, and the enduring strength of cultural memory.
Ayrson Heráclito was born in Macaúbas, Brazil in 1968. He lives and works in Salvador de Bahía, Brazil.
8 min 38 sec.
TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Collection
Dressed in traditional simple starched white clothing, Ayrson Heráclito stands with two men, also clad in white, as they prepare for a Candomblé cleansing ritual. After they carefully prepared the sacred items, the pemba (a fine white powder), material offerings, and incense, Heráclito begins the cleansing, which serves as both purification and exorcism. Using sacred leaves, he assists the oguns (spirits) and the deceased move peacefully out of the space where they have been trapped. The three men perform rhythmic, powerful movements throughout the space—beating arcades, doors, windows, and hidden corners. Their concentrated and reverent actions echo centuries of collective healing from the traumas of dispossession and slavery.
O sacudimento da Casa da Torre e o sacudimento da Maison des Esclaves em Gorée [The Purification of the Tower House and the Purification of the Maison des Esclaves in Gorée] is a profound and powerful cleansing ceremony that bridges two continents, addressing the deep scars left by the Atlantic slave trade. This ritual begins with the purification of the Maison des Esclaves on Gorée Island in Senegal, a notorious site of immense suffering connected to colonial history and the transatlantic slave trade. Gorée Island, once a key departure point for enslaved Africans, symbolizes the brutal journey of the Middle Passage, where millions were forcibly transported to the Americas under horrific conditions. Following the purification in Senegal, the focus shifts to a house in Bahia, once owned by a prominent landlord and enslaver of Indigenous people. Built of stone and lime, Casa da Torre, a fort erected in colonial times, is also a repository of a dark history of exploitation and oppression, reflecting the deep-rooted impact of slavery in the Americas.
In the context of Candomblé, a syncretic African-matrix religion that blends African traditions brought to Brazil with Catholicism, these acts of healing are vital. The plants used in these rituals, with names like “path opener,” “battle winner,” and “knock it all down,” are imbued with ancestral lore and resonate with universal themes of resistance, resilience, and renewal. Heráclito explains that the ritual addresses the legacy of colonization and enslavement, which continues to affect communities in both Bahia and Africa. It confronts the ongoing issues of racism, inequality, and poverty faced by Black populations worldwide, aiming to heal and reconcile with this painful history.
The act of bridging continents and histories becomes even more profound when the healing and reparation are carried out through the ancient practices of Yoruba culture. By performing sacred rituals to cleanse the detention castle on Gorée Island and the house in Bahia, this process symbolizes a collective acknowledgment of past atrocities and a commitment to healing. It not only honors the memory of those who suffered but also paves the way for a future rooted in justice, reconciliation, and the enduring strength of cultural memory.
Ayrson Heráclito was born in Macaúbas, Brazil in 1968. He lives and works in Salvador de Bahía, Brazil.