“Mona” is an exhibition named after a female essence embodied by Georgina Hahn. Together with photographer Mikus Kannenieks, the New York based artists stage a tribute to this character Mona by combining image, performance and design.

One can consider Mona as their own feminine alter ego, the alternative and ideal “me”. On the psychological plane we talk about the soul or sensuality (anima) as opposed to rationality and reason (animus). But Mona is much more than the sexual and psychological aspects. The Mona project is individual, relative and internally relational; the alter ego changes along with the one’s change in personality. As a result, this notion forms a matriachy, which starts with the lowest level of a slave and progresses via the understanding of power and beauty in the levels of a naive daughter, a confident master, and the Divine.

Hahn proves the existence of Mona through movement and choreography. She delves into the history of women in motion behind the lens. Hahn honors Isadora Duncan, Willi Ninja, Isabella Stewart Gardner, Frieda Kahlo, Amy Winehouse and others while exploring structures of power and beauty. Hahn looked to contemporary dancers and their depiction on film, Richard Avedon’s images, queens from the Harlem Ball Scene and ancient Egyptian art.

In order to physically exhibit the spiritual and dynamic Mona character in his installation, Kannenieks includes thirteen images of Hahn arranged in a pyramid that present a spiritually informed visualization for the new ensemble. Each level of the pyramid represents women in different strata of a matriarchy– slave, daughter, Holy Trinity and Goddess. The installation exhibits a wooden haystack structure evocative of Latvian folklore. Stressing the levels of power in an active hierarchy, the pyramid distinguishes slaves, daughters, and the divine– all unified by Mona.