Recall 

Revive 

Perhaps to represent both the strength and the dehumanization of Black women, Zora Neale Hurston said, “Black women are the mules of the earth” (Their Eyes Were Watching God, 1937). In the same spirit, this work is a meditation on viewing labor and the overexertion of Black women bodies as a thing of the past, perhaps in my constant daydreams, to reflect on how we can re-imagine a life where labor is not at the forefront of our lives to serve the expectations of a capitalistic society, leaving strenuous labor in the ruins. While reflecting, this work also serves as a bridge connecting the past, present, and future to acknowledge the labor and sacrifices of Black women and the expectations that are placed on them at a young age. The adultification bias placed on young Black girls has caused for their bodies to be overworked mainly outside the home and in educational spaces where they are often immediately not viewed as innocent beings; Black women may dwell in these institutions that doubt their morality, as well as their intellectual ability. They must prove that they are worthy of respect by going above and beyond, working harder, to fit a mold that is placed before them at a young age.  

As we figure out ways to emulate play and rest from our childhoods into our daily lives, it is also important to shine a light on those such as young Black girls who have often had their childhood stripped from them due to unrealistic expectations placed on them at a young age in institutionalized sectors such as school and religion. Some religious expectations of Black girls, in efforts to protect them from society’s distorted view of their bodies are often suffocating and result in calling more attention to the distorted views of Black girls. References of religious color themes, such as red and purple, allude to the holiness, cleanliness, purity, perfection, and strength that also allude to molds of unrealistic expectations and are seen throughout the work (Popsicle Lips, Grocery Store Trips Uniformed). Many of the items used in the work are found objects that I tend to gather over time due to my connections to them, often because of a memory or an anxiety that I might have. Incorporating colorful hair bobbles, which are typical to Black hair care, recalls the cultural practice of allowing Black girls to be little girls as long as possible by adorning them with “innocent” hairstyles and clothes. The hair bobbles are repeated throughout each piece, reverberating the Black girl experience and how it overlays every area of life. When I see old tools, I often think about what they were used for and who used them, and how these tools have been retired. Woven textiles and canvas material reflect the aprons and uniforms of Black women as they engage in domestic labor, including quilting which was often used for freedom of expression, art, and story-telling. Repeated photos of the supposed mother and daughter are a reminder to me of the precious relationships and time lost due to overworking, and I often think about who those people were and where they are now, and if they are passing on cultural traditions to their children without the emotional and physical trauma that is often embedded in their own experiences.

Mirroring works such as A Burst of Light by Audre Lorde, I strive to think about how we can be more present in our lives with our loved ones, while battling systems of oppression that destroy our bodies with generational poverty and sickness and cause us to lose time that could be put towards what we cherish the most. I desire for these images that represent the ruins of overpowering labor to become a tangible thing and for us to realistically be able to embrace rest and play without a heavy cloud hanging over us or death being the only form of peace and escape that we can reach. This work offers space and time for conjuring up resolutions as a community sharing space to revive ourselves with acts of rest. It is a representation of the ruins of our experiences and the beginning of our new experiences of freedom.

Niel Abston 

Recall

Revive (2022)