Mushrooms and garlic inhabit a symbolic territory shared by nature that heals and transforms, but also defies control. Over the centuries, they have been surrounded by an ambiguous aura, oscillating between the sacred and the suspicious, medicine and poison, protection and threat. In many cultures, this ambiguity has been intertwined with the female figure, sometimes as a healer, sometimes as a sorceress. Mushrooms, sprouting suddenly from the ground in unusual shapes and colors, have aroused both fascination and fear. Certain species were associated with flying ointments and "suspicious" potions, reinforcing their connection with female witchcraft rituals. Garlic, on the other hand, became a symbol of protection and magical power in the hands of female healers. Hung on doors, kept in pockets, or used in fumigations, it warded off evil spirits, the evil eye, and unwanted spells, acting as a shield against occult forces.
Giselle Beiguelman. Images created with Artificial Intelligence (LLM – Large Language Models), inkjet printing on Hahnemühle paper, 56 x 70 cm, 2024.