VEGAS is delighted to present ‘La Belle Dame sans Merci’, a group project curated by Anny Baranova, which brings together eight artists. Exploring notions of woman’s mysterious allure, her seductive charms and irresistibility, her skill to hypnotize and manipulate; the exhibition introduces a compilation of works, directed at indicating various aspects of female power and woman’s dark, dangerous side.

For the past couple of centuries the essence of a femme fatale has been occupying numerous works of literature and visual art. Initially, notions of femme fatale character have frequently appeared in Greek mythology as a monstrous Medusa, enchanting Circe and revengeful Medea. Moreover, ‘scarlet women’ Delilah and Jezebel of the Old Testament have depicted sexually alluring and irresistible tradition of femme fatale as well as their shamelessness and immorality. Naturally, the power of seduction and temptation can be traced back to the first woman created by God, Eve.

Femme fatales are beautiful and charming as well as cunning and manipulative, risky and dangerous. Having her captivating power  is no hard trick for a woman who knows how to play ‘mind games’ brilliantly. Possible display of warm genuine feelings or confirmation of affection toward a man of her attention is not in the femme fatale’s ‘rule list’ and consequently leads to asymmetrical nature of romantic relationship and ultimately leave their initially enchanted victims obsessed, disillusioned, emotionally and physically ‘drained’.  Femme fatale’s mysterious nature is double-faced, beyond doubt, and element of daylight’s sweet innocence, enticing, yet naïve behavior and, genuine gaze   can be the perfect façade, changing those lovely ladies into intimidating, ‘vampiresque’, thrilling beauties, with eyes of deadly gaze.