Rachael Padilla

Magdalene 3

Added 2022-08-08 22:30:08 +0000 UTC

The final installment for the footage I shot for the Mary Madgalene series. I've often found that the stories surrounding her speak to betrayal, grief, and loss. I attempted to embody that within the paintings and performance pieces.

Legends of Magdalene extend far beyond biblical texts, which ultimately combined several Marys into one. One legend tells of Mary wandering in repentance in the desert until her clothing wore thin. She miraculously grew fur to cover her body. There are depictions of a hairy Mary in Renaissance art. Which inspired me to make the fur suit! Another tells of Mary arriving on the shores of present day France, and living her life out in a cave in solitude.