The strength of a woman resides precisely in her emotions and her ability to transmute them into something greater. The work of Dola POSH (b.1991) reminds us of this intensity each woman carries within herself, a power not to be feared of by but to unlock. This vision is carried by the deification of womanhood in her self portraits regrouped in the Omo Mi series. Presented by Cynthia Corbett Gallery during 1-54 Art Fair in London, three self-portraits from this series captivated the crowds stunned by their grace and poise. During 1-54 Art Fair, we sat in conversation with Dola POSH , as she takes us through her thoughts when conceiving these body of works and retrospectively her path to artistry after the greatest gift was given to her.
Women are a temple for creativity, bearers of life, incubators of communities and many more. It is in this mid of a grey afternoon that we meet with Dola POSH arriving with the sense of grace and poise that accompanies her every room she walks in and as she welcomes us with an smile, fully dress in white, adding to the ethereal vision.
Transmutation
Ngalula MAFWATA, MAYÌ ARTS : How does this story begins ?
Dola POSH : “At the origin, it first started as a suggestion from my therapist following the birth of my daughter. I remember feeling different, experiencing depressing moods. As time went by, I realised that what I was experiencing was postpartum symptoms. After listening carefully to my story and what I was going through, my therapist suggested I should find a way to express these emotions. A way to release them. One suggestion was that I journal and write my thoughts for exemple. However having been familiar with the camera previously, I naturally started to photograph and do self portraits instead. Slowly, I started to document my journey into motherhood.”
DOLA’s Omo Mi series (My Child in Yorùbà), which debuted at the 1-54 Art Fair, explores a deeply personal narrative of motherhood. Selected for the Cynthia CORBETT’s Young Masters Art Prize in 2023, it offers an intimate lens into DOLA’s journey through motherhood and personal growth. She shares her raw and honest experience through the years reaching glorified motherhood in Mother’s Day, Year 3, in which she appears magnified, holding firm her daughter both wrapped in olive cloth. The veil she wears and the cathedral she appears to be in add to the grandeur of the vision.
Ngalula MAFWATA : In your work and in the Omo Mi series, the portrayal of womanhood is very elevated, women almost look like deities. How does this come to you ?
Dola POSH : I never plan my work to be beautiful. When I started my documenting process, everything was actually very raw and somehow spontaneous. I was taking these pictures as I was feeling, day after day in an intimate space. Over the time, the narrative grew organically into the present storyline and style. It is true that I like the idea of portraying women in a particular way however when working, it does not come to my mind first that it has or will look beautiful.
Ngalula MAFWATA : There is also a form of reverence to spirituality coming out of it
Dola POSH : Spirituality holds a special place in my work, I feel a connection with it. For exemple, the Madonna iconography has importance and you will notice can appear in some pieces of my work. This inspiration is a direct influence from my upbringing. I was raised in a family anchored in faith. Growing up, my father was a bishop and Christianity and its symbols surrounded me a lot throughout my childhood. I can say this element was of major influence into my work and even without realising it. I remember I had this moment at some point where I noticed that for some reasons I would often portray women wearing a veil in my photographs. Upon noticing it, I started to wonder where could this inspiration and specific element come from for me to use it continuously. Later on, I found out that this has been a long tradition to wear a veil for the women in my family. It is almost as if unconsciously it was already ingrained in me, part of my identity.
Ngalula MAFWATA : Is there some stigma existing regarding being a woman artist in your culture ?
Dola POSH : No, not at all. Actually I find my artistic practice liberating and does not experience limitations nor feel restrictions. On the other hand, I would say most of the stigma women experience in Nigeria are regarding motherhood and the topic of postpartum. As women, and especially in my culture, we are represented as strong, not necessarily in a bad light but as being the backbone of society. Women have a central role in families : they are expected to be strong and hold back their emotions and this even though motherhood can intertwine many emotions. Creating these photographs has been a mean to pour out these emotions and express myself and so that other women can relate as this is a shared experience among us. Femininity and its representation for what it is is very important. Exposing vulnerability really encouraged me to pursue my creative process in exploring this facet of womanhood we are not necessarily used to see.
Ngalula MAFWATA : As you are exploring this, what do you enjoyed the most into your creative process.
Dola POSH : I think part of what really nurtures me in my creativity is stories. I am interested into the story behind. For all my work, I always starts with the story first, what will it be about overall. On this aspect of the process, I am very structured and like to have the story in the background to guide me and that I will follow while creating the work.
Ngalula MAFWATA : What are other places where you find inspiration ?
Dola POSH : I am inspired by the stories of the black women in my community, nature and my journey as a womanWhen I look at my journey, for now I will continue to explore motherhood as an ongoing practice, my daughter is now four year old. I also want to extend my vision, working with other women who are mothers across the world.
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