Jonathan Sölanke Gathaara Fraser
Our Lady of Sorrows, HeLa, 2023
Tempera, charcoal, soft pastel, oil pastel, spray paint, india ink on cotton canvas
141.8 x 90 cm
photography by Ian Gichohi, Circle Art Gallery
courtesy of the artist
The Clearing takes its name from Toni Morrison's Beloved and the tradition of hush harbors where the enslaved would gather to worship and dance and be free. We welcome you to @themist.ke tomorrow for a night of listening in love.In this here place, we flesh; flesh that weeps, laughs; flesh that dances on bare feet in grass. Love it. Love it hard. Yonder they do not love your flesh. They despise it. They don't love your eyes; they'd just as soon pick em out.
No more do they love the skin on your back. Yonder they flay it. And O my people they do not love your hands. Those they only use, tie, bind, chop off and leave empty. Love your hands! Love them. Raise them up and kiss them. Touch others with them, pat them together, stroke them on your face 'cause they don't love that either. You got to love it, you! And no, they ain't in love with your mouth. Yonder, out there, they will see it broken and break it again.18/04/2024