Transportable altar for a divinity 

Transportable altar for a divinity (2015) / Installation / single-channel video, carved wood / 4'30'' / 45 × 50 × 45 cm / current pedestal 135 × 135 × 92 cm

About / Small portable chapels displaying a holy character inside—usually the Virgin Mary—circulated from neighbour to neighbour in several Mediterranean communities. In its consideration of the labor of the sacred and the value of what is worshiped, this piece revisits the religious artifact and its implications. In this version, an elder woman carries on with essential chores like peeling potatoes and cleaning up. Behind her, a back door is added for the divinity to exit.

Credits / performance: Mercè Mañà / cinematography and color grading: Xavier Pérez / carpentry: Markus Lantto, Rolf Steinsheim, Anna Estarriola / photo documentation: Jussi Tiainen, Petri Summanen With the support of / Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) / Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) Shows / 2015 Babel Gallery (NOR) / 2015 Huuto Gallery (FI) / 2015 Taidekeskus Purnu (FI) curated by Pessi Rautio / 2015 Exhibition Laboratory (FI) curated by Tintti Timonen / 2016 onwards Amos Anderson home (FI) / 2022 Borås Art Museum (SE) curated by Caroline Gustafsson / 2025 Amos Rex (FI) curated by Katariina Timonen In the collection of / Amos Rex