​Hybrid Shamana at Salzamt, created for the 17th edition of MUME (Museo Mexicano) was a cabaret style participatory performance centered around a female-shaman of an eclectic mix of symbols, actions, concepts and emotions. Polina's work often deals with hybridity of personas, cultural references and uncommon associations. This persona's main reference are the many Mexican shamans seen in Mexico City's main plaza - Zocalo - mixed in with Austrian cultural and historic references. These shamans perform dances and offer limpias or spiritual  cleansings  for a small fee. 

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During the Hybrid Shamana performance Polina led the audience through a journey of Mexican and Austrian symbols and actions: viejito (old man) mask, luchador - Mexican wrestler - mask, mezcal drinking, shaman ritual dancing, Mexican bright blanket, images of the Austrian Empress Elisabeth "Sissi" and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the iconic "lebkuchenherzen" gingerbread heart cookie with an inscription which read "Ruf mich an" - "Call me" and as the most notable element of the whole dress: a replica (another replica) of Moctezuma's - the Aztec emperor at the time of the Spanish conquest- headdress. An artifact which has kept Mexico and Austria's relations 'close' as Mexico has asked in repeated occasions for Austria to return the original headdress, now housed at the Welt Museum in Vienna.

 

The headdress is a hybrid element as well: made on top of a bike's helmet, Mozart's chocolate gold-wrappings instead of the gold pyramidal decorations, on the back two plastic yellow ducks with blinking lights and an original ticket from the Weltmuseum hangs on one of its sides. 

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After greeting the audience the Hybrid Shamana vows to the four cardinal directions and dances accompanied with live drums. Polina makes an invitation to the audience to get a "limpia." Thus again, performing a variety of actions which question the legitimacy and authenticity of such ritual. Herbs, incense, Coca Colas, raw chickens, bananas, monkey toys, eggs, green pom poms get used in this ritual of protection from evil spirits. 

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The performance takes a somber turn during the "last act." Polina transforms one last time, changing the headdress for a Slavic head scarf and walks holding a body-shaped form wrapped in white sheets. The style of the wrapping follows the same manner as corpses are being wrapped now in Gaza. As she places the corpse on the ground, on her abdomen is revealed the Mexican flag emblem - an eagle perched on a cactus devouring a snake - and painted red and green rings encircle it - the Mexican flag. As a final act of transformation, Polina takes black ink and paints over Mexican flag emblem transforming the Mexican flag into the Palestinian flag. 

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​Conceived and performed by Polina Porras Sivolobova

Music by Motz Flotzinger

Performed on May 15 -28, 2024 at Atelier Salzamt, Linz, Austria