I just want to leave this here. Mermaids, historically belong to all women in all cultures.
I find it interesting that some people (eyes rolling) on the internet, are upset about Disney’s plans to recreate “The Little Mermaid” a live action remake with Halle Bailey… as it has caused a controversy over race recently. If women actually started to care about #Herstory - the collective history of femininity, female folklore, the Devine Feminine… believe me - Mermaids have existed before Disney capitolised on the mermaid movie wave in the late 80’s like Splash, Mermaids, A Fish Named Wanda, wait that wasn’t about mermaids or was it? Mermaids have been “in” even before Hans Christian Andersen, possibly as old as The Puranas genre of literature that is found in both Hinduism and Jainism, sourcing back to the legends of Matsya Purana c. 250–500 CE, several thousand years ago as just written text.
All pop-culture about our sea madden sisters have just ripped off on Female Folklore, Goddess and Deities for profit, or to tell a cautionary tale of how “women manipulate men to their deaths.” Regardless of who sung what song, the he said, she said battle must be lost because the every day woman are still not benefiting from the profit. Don’t let media or the Patriarchy fool you, Mermaids still belong to All Women.
As a child my favorite “princess” was a mermaid. I wanted to be a mermaid when I grew up. I never desired to play wife, or to have a bunch of children, or do any of those preconceived roles of “what women or girls do.” Perhaps I was too, manipulated by popular mermaid films in the late 80’s growing up in the San Joaquine Valley. I completely consumed by the all things mermaid into my teens, eventually I would collect art of Amy Brown and Brian Froud from the Tower district (Suburb in Fresno, CA) There I eventually learned about mermaids from around the world. Because I loved how being a mermaid made me feel: beautiful, expressive, creative, adventurous, wild and strong.
Later on, in 2014, I stopped dreaming and produced a community event for women and girls. Though for what ever reason, Mermaids are still viewed as juvenile, childish or silly. I took a complete risk, I didn’t do it for the popularity, not for the money (I made even), I did it to uplift a collective spirit in all of us. Creating space for artistic women shouldn’t be shameful, neither should female sexuality or innocence. We are women, we are girls, we have so much power and we don’t even know it.
Upon curating La Serina, Maiden of the Sea, (scroll down to past events). At the event I used my own finances to promote undiscovered female artists. I taught myself graphic design, marketing and discovered new talent and took risks as well as connected sponsorships from various organizations in the community, including the Venice Art Crawl, The Claire Fontaine Foundation, Whole Foods and the Electric Lodge.
I had over 20 female creatives showcase their mermaid inspired works which included paintings, photography, mixed media (a mermaid created from sand), jewelry, hand made crafts, live performances and a mermaid costume contest, even a category for Mermen & a Merchild. We had people ranging from the ages of 6 years to 75 years old, and all cultural backgrounds.
It was a great event, it was such an honor to bring the community together over shared interest and female positivity. Lastly, I created this show was because I got tired of going to art shows where I as women was working so incredibly hard to be seen as a woman in a mans world. Most of what is out there, stories for women are for and written by Men. It is time that females of all backgrounds decide what the fuck they are with out labels and shame and superstition. Are you getting my drift?
-Sincerely,
Marlena (Founder of Lady Art Collective)
Below I am attaching a mixed media {collage-painting with glitter sides (8x10 in)}. I created for my art show in spirit of my love of all cultures and all spiritualities. Because as women, it is my belief we can embrace beauty, learn about other cultures and beliefs to better our view of the world, not destroy it. She is created from my imagination and referencing Sikh and Indonesian cultures.
Additionally… here is some extra #MerLove …..
Some Mermaids and Mer-Maiden creatures from around the globe include:
Mami Water - Central, South and West African “Mother of the Water” - Also Caribbean & Americas luring men to deaths as a cautionary tale.
Melusina - French Folklore, shape shifter can also appear with wings and two serpent or fish tails.
Matyangana or Matsya - Matsya (Sanskrit: मत्स्य, lit. fish) is the fish avatar in the ten primary avatars of Hindu god Vishnu. Matsya is described to have rescued Manu and earthly existence from a great deluge.
Ningyo - Japanese Folklore - Described as an interesting combo as having a monkey’s mouth with small teeth like a fish’s, shining golden scales, and a quiet voice like a skylark or a flute.
Sirenia - (animal or human, creature lives in the sea or rivers)
Suvannamaccha - is a daughter of Tosakanth (Ravana) that appears in the Cambodian and Thai versions of the Ramayana, the great Indian Epic of Lord Rama defeating Ravana with his monkey army and tries to spoil Hanumans plans by destroying his bridge.
Vishnu - Hindu God (Male Avatar) - Mermaid Diety, linked to Matsya (first recorded mermaid folklore).
Yemoja - is a major water deity from the Yorba religion, she is an orisha (the human form of spirits) and considered the Black Virgin Mary “Lady of Regla.”
Yara or Iara - Brazilian, and depicted as the Ancient Guaraini / Tupi folklore - depicted as the “Lady of the Lake” with green hair, light brown or copper-colored skin as a siren, nymph or mermaid.
Tlanchana - Mexico with European influence - Her appearance is that of a woman with the lower body of a snake or fish, and is oftentimes wearing a crown, necklaces, and aquatic creatures strung around her waist. Otomi goddess known as Acapaxapo (also spelled Acpaxapo). She was said to have auspicious powers and would be called upon to deliver omens.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythic_humanoids
https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Asian_Mermaids_(Matsy%C4%81%E1%B9%85gan%C4%81_and_Ningyo)
Spiritual Mermaid
(by Marlena) created in 2014
Halle Bailey to Star As Ariel in Disney’s “Little Mermaid” Live-Action Remake - image from www.gossiponthis.com
Show Flyer
Mermaid art by various creatives.
Lizzy Ruch (Mermaid Costume Contest)
Yemoja (Source Instagram - unknown artist)
Matsya - One of Visnu’s Avatars (Male or transgendered Water God).
Ningyo
Suvannamaccha
Tlanchana - www.iagua.es