Concept

Mandragora Officinarum by director and visualist Tiago Pereira is a live video performance based on the fusion of religion, xamanism, and alternative medicine concepts. It unveils different fields of knowledge such as ethno-history, ethno-linguistics and ethno-botanic reinforcing the value of oral narratives, music and rituals in society. This post-cinematic event gathers samples of contemporary music and field recording on collective memory that deeps in dynamic and unconventional aspects of culture. The descriptions collected on popular beliefs, botanic and their contradictions with science and religion are put together with musical narratives aiming at new strings of creative thought that instigate and renovate today’s identity process.


about:
Mandragora Officinarume is the common name for members of the plant genus Mandragora that contains deliriant hallucinogenic tropane alkaloids such as hyoscyamine. Although all parts of the Mandragora Officinarum plant are poisonous, its roots have long been used in magic rituals and in neopagan religions. The plant grows natively in southern and central Europe, in lands around the Mediterranean Sea, and also in Corsica.



The musical environments included in Mandragora Officinarum soundtrack vary from Jazz, Folk, Electronic, Experimental, Post-Rock and Pop. Created and interpreted by musicians such as Ernst Reijseger, Pedro Mestre, Paulo Meirinhos, Vasco Ribeiro Casais, Filipe Valentim, Tó Trips, Tiago Guilul, Walter Benjamin, Jorge Cruz, Márcia Santos, B Fachada, Tiago Sousa, José Oliveira, Lara Abrantes Figueiredo, José Relvas e Luís Fernandes.

Musical production by Eduardo Vinhas

Marcia Santos from Tiago Pereira on Vimeo.

Tiago Sousa from Tiago Pereira on Vimeo.

Walter Benjamin from Tiago Pereira on Vimeo.

Tiago Guilul from Tiago Pereira on Vimeo.

Paulo Meirinhos from Tiago Pereira on Vimeo.

Filipe Valentim from Tiago Pereira on Vimeo.

Ernst Reijseger from Tiago Pereira on Vimeo.

Jorge Cruz from Tiago Pereira on Vimeo.

Pedro Mestre from Tiago Pereira on Vimeo.

Vasco Ribeiro Casais from Tiago Pereira on Vimeo.