WHEN KATIE FOX MET THE EVIL TURTLE | BEATRICE MARCHI

When Katie Fox met the Evil Turtle (2022) is a video created by the artist Beatrice Marchi. Live footages are alternate with digital animations in a video that tells the story of Katie Fox (the protagonist) meeting the notorious Evil Turtle in a narrative that operates in the balance between real storytell and fake news. The figure of a narrator appears at the beginning of the video, disguised as a photojournalist and with his face covered by a thick wig, carrying an appropriate camera equipped however with a disproportionate lens which move doubt on his credibility, both as a narrator and professional.

Katie Fox is an imaginary identity, alter ego of the artist herself, who appears as a hooded figure wearing a mask over her face, a blanket over her shoulders and black leather boots with high heels. The girl lives a constant inner conflict: during her childhood she realizes that doing evil actions brings her popularity and, although she does not like to do them, the desire to be popular prevails. She often finds herself having aggressive behaviors, saying verbal attacks or damaging and breaking other people’s objects, using the improper weapon of stilettos. On the other hand, the once peaceful and friendly Evil Turtle suffered painful trauma, both physical and emotional, when her shell was broken. From that moment on she began to assault other creatures, attacking anyone she met as a preventive form of protection.

The introduction, which search identification or at least a feeling of empathy in the viewer, gives way to the central event of this story: the duel between Katie and the Evil Turtle, both with the villain role, that takes place in the comforting set of a house garden, among dry leaves, bushes and trunks.

“I’ll smash you” is the intimidating sentence that Evil Turtle repeats to Katie, while a soundtrack of rock music tries to give an epic tone to a fight that really has nothing epochal, but rather arouses an unsettling comic effect. The animal, slow and mild by nature, advances with an aggressive step and forces the girl to escape by taking refuge behind a concrete column. “It was you, naughty!” screams the turtle. Although she declares innocent – at least regarding the specific shell incident – the animal’s repeated allegations bring to her mind the question “What if it was me?”, making her feel an unexpected and new feeling: the sense of guilt.
First perceived as disgusting, this feeling gradually fascinates and persuades the girl to change her perspective, convincing her that repent the bad deeds is the way to obtain even more popularity. The satisfaction felt by Katie, which finally derives from a morally positive action, is so irrepressible that it turns into an improvised dance, as well as precarious due to the high heels.

Among the narrative threads of When Katie Fox met the Evil Turtle, we can find one of the most classic and conventional metaphor about wars, the one between good and evil. Those who face their demons – both inner and outer – like Katie, get the chance to find serenity. On the other hand, those who let themselves be guided by resentment and do not give any chance to listening and understanding, like the Evil Turtle, will be forever condemned to fight the worst enemy, themselves.

Beatrice Marchi
When Katie Fox met the Evil Turtle, 2022, video still
© Courtesy the artist

Beatrice Marchi, When Katie Fox met the Evil Turtle, 2022, video HD and digital animation, 10’13’’
Exhibition view at “Role Play”, 19 Feb – 26 Set 2022, Osservatorio Fondazione Prada, Milano, curated by Melissa Harris
© Photo by Delfino Sisto Legnani

03/06/2023