Inaugural exhibition
3-4 December 2021
Tottenham Literature Festival, Bernie Grant Art Centre, London, England
The exhibition
.the temple of her skinis a visual documentary project exploring the stories and aesthetics around African women’s tattoo and scarification journeys. The series centers on African women in the diaspora and on the African continent - exploring traditional practices and art and the largely undocumented world of how and why we inscribe our skin in contemporary tattoo and scarification.
The project is imagined and co-created by Jessica Horn and Laurence Sessou who met each other on the fringes of the tattoo scene. .the temple of her skinis the first documentation of its kind with an Africa regional and diasporic scope and using both photography and film to explore women, tattoo and scarification.Jessica and Laurence's research into the oral and written history ofbody marking continues to uncover many rarely heard stories, revealing a lineage of African women as tattoo and scarification pioneers.
Tottenham Literature Festival 2021 features an inaugural curated look at this ongoing project, with photography and documentary film featuring eight .temple women with family lineages in Benin, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. A scent-scape designed by Laurence invokes the smells of sacred ground and ritual. In the films each .temple woman recounts the histories written in her skin - journeys of youthful rebellion, healing, connection to community and spirit, politics and activism, motherhood, heritage and reminders of life wisdoms. Through this we are brought back to the persistent power of self-creation- auto-poesis- the ability to constantly create and recreate the self.
Animated by the spirit of communion, Jessica and Laurence were attentive to creating a space for .temple women to voice thar felt and feels familiar. Homespace. A place of mutual recognition as inked and scarred African women who mark their bodies as an aesthetic choice, but also in acts of deep connection with ancestry, lineage, memory and spirit. This was made possible by an all-African woman team of creatives, and intentionally cultivating a gaze that looks on our bodies with revolutionary love and respectful witnessing.
Because our stories matter. And our skin speaks.
featured .temple women
Adelaine Douglas, Midwife, Zambia/Zimbabwe | Aina Morenike, Artist, Nigeria | Alewya Demmisse, Artist, Ethiopia/Egypt | Jessica Horn, Feminist activist and writer, Uganda/USA | Laurence Sessou, Therapist and doula, Benin | Sara Bakr, Full spectrum birth worker/doula, Sudan/Egypt | Sojourner Bunting, Social entrepreneur, Tanzania | Tafadzwa Chigudu, Lawyer and cake artist, Zimbabwe
Credits
Creative Direction and Executive Production: Jessica Horn, Laurence Sessou
Photography: Bumi Thomas, Sanaa Abstrakt
Film direction: Dalia Dias, Sanaa Abstrakt
Director of Photography/Editing: Dalia Dias, Marie Boateng
Production and Sound: Killisha-Chanté
Make up artists: Angela Appiah, Dominique Thorley
Music: Ria Boss
Many thanks to everyone who donated to help birth this exhibition: Richard Mkoloma, Robyn Yaker, khadijatou doyneh, Skye Chirape, Pontso Mafethe, Gisela Lopez, Daisy Bernard, Jessica Phillips, Fatimah Kelleher, Ruby Johnson , Eberé Anosike, Natalie Roper, Matiga Harrower, Francoise Moudouthe, Natasha Makengo, Jessica Tomlin, Tshegofatso Senne, Sista Zai Zanda, Shannon Bankole, Matt Horton, Muna Mcadie, Zoe Gadegbeku, Ms S T-Elson, Ebele Okobi, Imani Vital, Dylema Amadi, Sarah Bobbitt, Bo Ebuehi, Kelechi Okafor, Neequaye Dsane, Keara McGraw, Mikel Ameen, Michelle Noel, Heather Doyle, Ralitsa D, Gemma Weekes, Emmy Lim Hon, Andi Harris, Shawna Wakefield, Barby Asante, Virisila Buadromo, Pamela Shifman, nicola goodall, Jennifer Park, Esther Garcia, Petri Yoga Hathi, Nydia Swaby, Akwasi Aidoo, Sheila Ruiz, John Scott, Dalia Dias, Suzettex Llewellyn, Sam Payne, Sherry Dzinoreva, Aina Morenike, Shaliima Johnson, Vedina Rose, Paul Wright, Hélène Sessou, Pauline Sessou-Diop, Hannya Jayne, Naomi Woddis, Alex Heselton, Christelle Panou, Diana Clarke, Marta Cuboni, Gbemi Irone, Veronica Eisert, Anali Delaney, Lisa Anderson, Ash Ellis, Dorcas Magbadelo, Fatimah Kelleher, Christine Wallace, Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, Pamela Ohene, Francoise Mukuku, mwamba malale, Deborah Marie, Kelly Mckay, Andrew Horn, Subrina Kidd, Sly Augustin, Sarah Keeton, Carole Patrick, Diane Goldie, Angelique Brathwaite, Kemi Davies, Naomi Woddis, Estelle Met, miriam kazolides, Max Andre Rademacher, Ngombo Chansa, Dorrie Joy, Amani Zarroug, Michelle Adams, Jessica Horn, Adelaide Bannerman, Laurence Sessou and several generous anonymous donors.
“When you have your markings you will always find your way back home.”
— Elizabeth Agboton, Benin