Holy Ghost, 2001-2002 Digital

Shows a view of Il Porto looking out between the cliffs to Galli Island, with Vali's home, her Moorish domed pavilion on the left, and animals depicted including dogs, foxes, snakes and a giant squid on the left hand side with the reclining figure of Vali Myers at rest with her foxes under the 'protective arms of the largest creature' in the sea, letting go of a book or diary with the initials 'VM' on the cover. Also shows a figure of the Madonna top right.

Described by Gianni Menichetti in 'Notes about Vali's drawings in this book' (YMS 16336, Box 6/3): This great monster of the deep, believed to be the largest creature in the ocean, and the sperm-whale's only prey, is the giant squid, hardly ever seen floating on the water in its vast mass. In Melville's 'Moby Dick', there is a chapter named 'Squid' where this phantom-like being appears: "the most wondrous phenomenon which the secret seas have hitherto revealed to mankind". Starbuck calls it: "white ghost". The sperm-whale has to dive down to the dark bed of the ocean to hunt for the giant squid and sometimes fierce is the fighting, of which the whale bears many scars. So this Holy Ghost is not a dove-like spirit of the air, but an awesome sea-monster coming up from the deepest abyss...Here the giant squid merges with the Valley and its cliffs. Under its tentacles, Vali with foxes 'gone to earth'. The walled garden, the snow-white pavilion, and paths and caves with animal scenes. In one of the caves a fox surrounded by flames, in a high one a moth-like Madonna. The sea and the Sirens' Island, and two ravens flying into the Valley...'