31 December 13:30 – 4pm

Araceli Gomez Castro (Mexico City, 1994) re-enacts the ancient druidic ritual of cutting mistletoe to distribute amongst friends and family at New Year’s Eve. In collaboration with Fitzrovia Gallery, Araceli stages The Celebration is the Performance, a screening of the enactment of the first part of the ritual, recorded during the days leading up the event, a display of recent drawings made using natural pigments and one painting executed with pigment made from fungus growing on cactus and broadly used amongst indigenous peoples in Mexico. The second part of the ritual, addressing generosity and giving, takes place in the Gallery. Valued for its associations with magic and healing properties, the mistletoe was a precious gift amongst the Druid communities. On New Year’s Eve, children were sent out to offer mistletoes to neighbours. Incorporating the druidic ritual in her own native tradition of the posada, a daily celebration during one fortnight leading up to New Year’s Eve, Araceli has prepared Mexican dishes to share with visitors as part of the performance. The event is open to public and visitors are welcome to bring dishes to share.