In this exhibition, I challenge traditional uses of images and narratives that have been oppressive. I explore how family archives in rural deep Southern homes function as sanctuaries and spaces of resistance, where images are critically analyzed and Black narratives are preserved and celebrated. By elevating the act of curating and displaying images within the home to the gallery space, I transform everyday domestic acts into deliberate aesthetic choices that transcend mere decoration. This shift in context sparks dialogue about the visibility of marginalized experiences, reclaiming agency and highlighting the power of images to both perpetuate and subvert oppressive narratives.
My conceptual approach in Keeper of the Walls draws inspiration from bell hooks’ Art on My Mind: Visual Politics, which advocates for art as a site of empowerment and critical engagement, art as a tool for critical engagement and liberation, particularly relevant for Black communities. from the concept of the keeper of the walls, a figure who acts not only as a caretaker of domestic space but also as a storyteller and cultural archivist, embodying hooks’ idea of art as a form of critical consciousness that challenges exclusion and validates Black experiences.
In the installation Beyond the Black Mirror, I employ 40% transparent black two-way mirrors to create a veil that both conceals and reveals, prompting viewers to confront deep-rooted racist imagery and its enduring legacy.
