BREATHE. LOVE HERE NOW - 2017
"If we are going to heal, let it be glorious"
Black Blossoms Exhibition Tour 2017
Woman of Colour, this is for you because healing isn’t pretty; it requires honesty, action, discipline and support.
Women of Colour, this is for us because we are worthy and we deserve love.
“We are here.
We are human.
We are powerful.
We unite.
And still we rise”
-Titles of the illustrations
“Breathe. Love here now,” is a call to Black women and Women of Colour to be still, to breathe, to ground themselves and to tell themselves the truth. My personal need for a practical sustainable self-care practice, inspired reflections on: the impact of stereotypes (such as The Jezebel, Mammy, The Sapphire) on the mental health of Black Women and the time and space set aside self-care whilst facing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual repercussions of systemic and internalised racism.
Through a series of journaling prompts, Black Women and Women of Colour are invited to check in and reflect on how they are feeling and what they need. This will enable each woman to introduce daily rituals that they can use to meet their needs. Such rituals could be as simple as going for a walk in the morning, having a herbal bath before going to bed or by simply honouring themselves by saying ‘no’. This installation also aims to celebrate the healing and solidarity that can be found within sisterhood. Once each woman has reflected upon their own self-care practice, they are invited support the development of another by writing a self care tip and pegging this on the display.
Women of Colour, this is for us because we are worthy and we deserve love.
“We are here.
We are human.
We are powerful.
We unite.
And still we rise”
-Titles of the illustrations
“Breathe. Love here now,” is a call to Black women and Women of Colour to be still, to breathe, to ground themselves and to tell themselves the truth. My personal need for a practical sustainable self-care practice, inspired reflections on: the impact of stereotypes (such as The Jezebel, Mammy, The Sapphire) on the mental health of Black Women and the time and space set aside self-care whilst facing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual repercussions of systemic and internalised racism.
Through a series of journaling prompts, Black Women and Women of Colour are invited to check in and reflect on how they are feeling and what they need. This will enable each woman to introduce daily rituals that they can use to meet their needs. Such rituals could be as simple as going for a walk in the morning, having a herbal bath before going to bed or by simply honouring themselves by saying ‘no’. This installation also aims to celebrate the healing and solidarity that can be found within sisterhood. Once each woman has reflected upon their own self-care practice, they are invited support the development of another by writing a self care tip and pegging this on the display.
INSTALLATION
ILLUSTRATIONS
The five illustrations reflect and celebrate the presence, power of Black Women as well as the importance of sisterhood as it has played a significant role in my healing process.
- “We are here" - Pen, wash and bleach, 2017 - 11.5" x 11.7" Giclée print on 285g Hahnemühle Pearl paper
- "We are human" - Pen, Wash & Bleach, 2017 - 11.7" x 11.7" Giclée print on 285g Hahnemühle Pearl paper
- "We are powerful" - Pen, Wash, Bleach, Ink & Watercolour, 2017 - 11.7" x 11.7" Giclée print on 285g Hahnemühle Pearl paper
- "We unite" - Pen, Wash & Bleach, 2017 - 11.7" x 15" Giclée print on 285g Hahnemühle Pearl paper
- "And still we rise" - Pen, Wash, Bleach, Ink & Watercolour, 2017, - 11.7" x 15.7" Giclée print on 285g Hahnemühle Pearl paper
