We inhabit an elusive space, grappling with the ongoing struggle to discover the missing pieces of self. The pursuit of accepted and to belonging is universal, shaping our identities and experiences. In my practice, I explore the act of imitation and mimicry - manifestations of need for belonging within a society deeply influenced by the distortions of colonial history and class hierarchies.
My work centers on the duality embedded in cultural identity, emphasizing its fluid, ever changing nature. This exploration seeks to contribute to the ongoing discourse on cultural representation and the complexities of identity formation. Recurring motifs such as collars, pearls, spoons, lace, hair and cane serves as symbolic markers of control, restriction and high society, juxtaposed with the human figure to highlight societal tensions surrounding class and status.
In the series, begun in late 2018, I delve into the concept of "Lure"- its role as bot a medium of attraction and a tool of survival. Mimicry emerges as a strategy to invent, copy, and fabricate cultural trends, reflecting the Caribbean's historical position as a space of conquest and allure. This history of exchange, imitation and domination shapes the narratives of conflict, superficiality, and longing that I weave into my work.
Through the interrogation of objects and figures, I comment on how imposed cultural images create internal and external conflicts. The works engage with the history of portraiture, particularly Renaissance and Dutch portrait traditions of the 16th and 17th centuries. By re-contextualizing these influences, I blend traditional and contemporary languages to construct narratives that interrogate identity, class and representation.
Ultimately, my work aims to provoke dialogue about the forces that shape identity and the intricate, layered realities of cultural existence.