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Disruption riding in on disruption-90x97cm acrylic and ink and stretched canvas ready to hang

Cassandra, high priestess of Apollo, rides aloft a trojan horse – an idiomatic representation of concealment, of dangerous enemy cargo within.

Cassandra was given the ability to foresee the future by Apollo, who in return expected to have his way with her. She declined. As a God, Apollo could not reverse the gift, but not liking to lose, he instead made sure that no-one would believe Cassandra’s prophecies. She warned the citizens about the Trojan war, and the horse… but was not believed. Cassandra thus represents the first of many women who have labelled ‘crazy’ by a jilted lover, her peers and society in general. Despite the prophetess’ warnings, Troy was destroyed, and Cassandra was raped by Ajax and kidnapped to be a concubine to the king Agamemnon.

The “Cassandra syndrome/complex” describes how a sufferer’s voice goes unheeded. The term CADD – Cassandra Affective Deprivation Disorder (Aston, 2009) may be given to NT (neurotypical) partners experiencing distress as a result of their emotional needs not being recognised, or met, by their AS (autistic) partner, the impacts including low self-esteem, and loss of self-identity.

As a metaphor, the trojan horse personifies the plight of women everywhere.

This piece gives voice to Cassandra’s everywhere. By speaking back to hegemonic patriarchal depictions of ‘crazy women’, the ‘witch’ and the ‘bitch’, I bring the tale full circle: disruption riding in on disruption.

Disruption riding in on disruption

Name: Disruption riding in on disruption
Brand: Karen Chappelow
SKU: 513905
Price: 2500 AUD
Availability: OutOfStock
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)