Surrealist Erotica: The Witch // inspired by Maya Deren

Continuing with my Surrealist Erotica project the next video added to the series was inspired by the influential experimental filmmaker Maya Deren. In 1943 she created the unfinished silent film The Witch's Cradle, featuring an appearance by Dada-artist Marcel Duchamp.

Still from Deren's The Witch's Cradle

Here are some resources about the film and about Deren's work:
Witch's Cradle via Strange Flowers
Maya Deren: The High Priestess of Experimental Cinema via Senses of Cinema
The Incomplete Dream of Maya Deren and Marcel Duchamp
Maya Deren Forum

And this is the actual (unfinished) film by Maya Deren:

For my projections I used some of Deren's footage and I recreated the seal from actress Pajorita Matta's head onto mine.

Preview of The Witch by Joan Pope, inspired by Maya Deren

It's difficult to see in my shots, but the seal says "the end is the beginning is...the end is the beginning..."

Joan Pope as The Witch, in color

Check out my past posts about other photos and videos related to the project:
Surrealist Erotica // The Mask: inspired by Man Ray
Electricity by SexDeathRebirth / Man Ray
Surrealist Erotica: Erotique Voilee
Heir, inspired by Kiki de Montparnasse and Man Ray
Surrealist Erotica: Dream of Venus, inspired by Salvador Dali
In Memory of Nusch Eluard
Meret Oppenheim inspired gloves
The Years Lie In Wait For You, inspired by Dora Maar
Andre Masson's Mannequin
Surrealist Erotica: Acephale // inspired by Andre Masson and Georges Bataille
Surrealist Erotica: Elsa Schiaparelli Part 1 (preview)
Surrealist Erotica: Meret Oppenheim part 1 (preview)
Recreation of hands painted by Picasso/photographed by Man Ray

Surrealist Erotica // from Joan Pope on Vimeo.