The Ones We Carry is a collection of paintings exploring memory, identity, migration, and resilience through the experience of the African diaspora.
The project reflects on what it means to move between places, cultures, and different versions of ourselves. Our identities are often shaped by the people, places, memories, and experiences we carry with us. Even when our surroundings change, these elements remain part of who we are.
The exhibition will feature original portrait paintings alongside selected painted objects and printed paintings suspended from cables throughout the hut. Rather than presenting the work only on traditional walls, some pieces will appear to float within the space, creating layers and allowing visitors to move around the artwork and experience it from different perspectives.
The suspended works are an important part of the concept. They represent memories, stories, and identities that exist around us and move with us, rather than remaining fixed in one place. The installation will create a visual environment where paintings exist both individually and as part of a larger composition.
The artwork draws from African and diasporic cultural references, contemporary street culture, portraiture, and personal experiences of migration and belonging. The goal is to create a space that feels intimate, reflective, and visually striking while remaining accessible to a broad audience.
For Nocturne, the nighttime setting will become part of the experience. The arrangement and lighting of the suspended works will create depth, shadows, and movement within the hut, transforming the space into an immersive painting installation.
The project will primarily be observation-based, I will be present to speak with visitors about the paintings, the installation, and the ideas behind the work.
Ultimately, The Ones We Carry asks: What parts of ourselves do we carry when everything around us changes?
