IS THIS DESIRE? (the mami wata who chose herself)

Artist Statement When I was six, my mother handed me a small green hardbound book of Liberian folklore tales. Over the years, I immersed myself in these stories, reading them cover to cover many times. As I transitioned into adulthood, my perspective on these cherished tales evolved. While many conveyed universal messages of kindness and generosity, I began to discern the pervasive misogynoir within them. These stories depict femmes as greedy, jealous, or mere objects of desire to be acquired. They lack narratives exploring feminine desire outside the realm of cautionary tales. Earlier this year (2023) I began to contemplate the untold stories of the femmes within my beloved Liberian folklore. What were their desires? This question propels my newest ongoing series: "Is This Desire?”, the title taken from a PJ Harvey song of the same name. Is this desire enough, enough To lift us higher, to lift above? Is this desire enough, enough Enough inside? Is this desire? The song resonates wit