Momeno wa seaparo sa gagwe, 2026
Mixed media
103 cm x 124,5 cm
Artist’s Statement
Momeno wa seaparo sa gagwe (the hem of his garment II) is part of an ongoing body of work that reflects on my matriarchal lineage and the ways generations of women in my family have navigated pain, survival, care, and resilience. Through this work, I acknowledge the struggles they endured, particularly the presence of alcoholism as a means of coping with grief, hardship, and unresolved trauma. Rather than judging these histories, I seek to honour them with compassion while consciously choosing to end this cycle within my own life.
The work draws on my faith and the biblical story of the woman who touched the hem of Christ’s garment and was healed. For me, this narrative represents hope, restoration, and the possibility of transformation. It reflects my reliance on God as I forge a new path while carrying the memories of those who came before me.
Using alcohol bottle caps, aluminium can pull tabs, wool, empty tea bags, and red thread, I transform materials associated with both pain and care. Crochet serves as an homage to the women in my family who passed this skill down through generations. Beyond its domestic associations, crochet represents creativity, labour, survival, and a quiet means of enduring difficult circumstances.
The stitched tea bags speak to the fragility of human life and the strength required to carry unseen burdens. The red thread symbolises the blood of Jesus Christ, serving as a visual reminder of healing, protection, and spiritual renewal.
Ultimately, Momeno wa seaparo sa gagwe is an act of remembrance, gratitude, and healing; a reflection on inherited histories and the possibility of creating new futures rooted in faith, care, and transformation.
