Socratis Socratous, Naja Naja, limited edition

Socratis Socratous, Naja Naja, 2008, inkjet print, 40×27 cm, edition of 20

Naja Naja was the cobra snake used in Rumours, Socratis Socratous’ project curated by Sophie Duplaix (chief curator Centre Pompidou) at the 53rd Venice Biennial (2009) representing Cyprus. Inspired by a story from the Cypriot press, according to which Egyptian imported palm trees had Cobra snake eggs in their roots and had to get uprooted, the artist invites in the pavillion two snake charmers – who are activists protesting the veto of environmental groups and the ban of the snake charmer profession in India, which left a whole Caste unemployed. For Rumours the imported palm trees, roam around Venice’s canals, while the snake charmers play music on the streets in an attempt to awaken the snakes.
Works by Socratis Socratous (b. in Paphos, Cyprus, 1971) are included in the Collection of Centre Pompidou, Paris; the Belvedere Museum, Vienna; the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art; the State Collection of Cypriot Contemporary Art.