Deadly Charm of Snakes

Angelika Markul, "Deadly Charm of Snakes", 2020

Video installation, music by Wojciech  Puś
Film, color, sound, 18’18”, loop

Sweetwater, United States
Sweetwater Jaycees Rattle Snake Round up
March 9-15,  2020
In collaboration with the curator Jarosław Lubiak

Director of photography Victor Zébo
Production Galerie Albarran Bourdais
And with the support of curator Marion Vasseur Raluy


Contrary to previous works, with this movie Angelika Markul wants to bear witness to the actual event. It is the World’s Largest Rattlesnake Roundup in 2020 and a contest for Miss Rattlesnake Charmer Pageant’s title. The contest winner is expected to participate in crucial Roundup activities like killing a rattlesnake, skinning it, and supposedly eating the meat. She becomes the queen of the massacre. The argument for it is pretty practical: “The Roundup is a great benefit to the entire area and is needed to control the snakes’ population.” The artist creates a multivalent image aimed to raise questions on the nature of human actions.


Text by Jarosław Lubiak