Magic Maids interweaves ritual, pageantry, and possession in an encounter with two brooming figures sweeping out the hidden histories of patriarchal violence and the exploitation of women’s labour. The broom—both household tool and witch’s vehicle—becomes an axis of monstrous feminist resistance, transforming oppression into ritual defiance.

Created by Eisa Jocson (Philippines) and Venuri Perera (Sri Lanka)—artists from countries known for exporting migrant domestic work—Magic Maids emerged from their visit to Basel’s Pharmacy Museum, where they noted the absence of women. They traced connections from European witch-hunts to today’s global chain of care work, evoking the ghost of Anna Göldi, Switzerland’s last executed witch – and a housemaid.

Through sweeping as bodily inquiry, incantation, and protest, Jocson and Perera expose the enduring violence behind domestic labour and reclaim the witch and the maid as rebellious, interconnected figures. Magic Maids is a ritual of disobedience that rewilds the domesticated feminine.

about

Eisa Jocson is an interdisciplinary artist based in La Union, Philippines. With a background in visual art, ballet, and pole dancing, she investigates body politics within the service and entertainment industries, revealing how capital drives bodies to move—both socially and across borders through migrant labour. From Death of the Pole Dancer to Macho Dancer, Host, Princess, Superwoman Band, and Manila Zoo, her works expose how the indentured body navigates ‘developed’ geographies. Jocson’s pieces are presented at major theatres and international festivals across Asia and Europe, including Tanz im August, TPAM Yokohama, Zürcher Theaterspektakel, and Frankfurter Positionen. Her accolades include the CCP 13 Artists Award (2018), Hugo Boss Asia Art Award (2019), SeMA-HANA Award (2021), and Tabori Award International (2023).
https://www.instagram.com/eisajocson/

Venuri Perera is a choreographer, performance artist, curator and educator from Colombo. Exploring the power dynamics of visibility and opacity, she attempts to destabilise how we perceive the ‘other.’ Her solo and collaborative creations deal with violent nationalism, patriarchy, immigration, colonial heritage and class and were invited to festivals/biennales/symposia across Europe, South and East Asia, Middle East and Africa since 2008. She has closely collaborated with choreographers Geumhyung Jeong (SK) (Theatre Spektakel / Monsoon Australia), Natsuko Tezuka (JP) (Kyoto Experiment / SIFA Singapore). Venuri conceived and curated the projects of the Colombo Dance Platform (2015-2020, Goethe-Institut) and is committed to continue creating support networks for the independent dance scene in Sri Lanka. A graduate of DAS Theatre, she is currently based in Amsterdam.
https://www.instagram.com/roadsideninja/