David Batchelor

According to an interpretation of the myth of Medusa, she was once a devastatingly beautiful priestess in the temple of Athena, enrapturing the most powerful gods of Olympus. She was taken against her will by Poseidon, and in the most unjust turn of events, Athena — goddess of justice — cursed the suffering Medusa for this violation of the sanctity of her place of worship. Her beautiful grey hair was transformed into a bed of serpents, her teeth to needles, and her face made so hideous that all who looked upon her would harden to stone.

Various interpretations go on to describe Medusa as the leader of the Gorgons, described by Pliny the Elder as “a race of savage, swift, and hair-covered women,” to whom many armies of men met their demise. The moment captured above was inspired by the sculptor Bernini’s bust of Medusa (c. 1630) as she weeps for her lost beauty, not yet realizing she would be a leader among women and exact her own vengeance on the world of men.

ig: @yo_scoot

Ryan Donato, 

After van Gogh, 2015. 

hunger, 2015.