My work dissects the identity and experience of Afro-Caribbean women through the recurring symbol of the mango. The parallels between the fruit and Caribbean women are vast—its fragrance, sweetness, and bruised flesh mirror the beauty and complexity of Black womanhood. As a Bahamian woman, I grew up hearing the term mango skin, a phrase used to refer to Black women of lighter hues. In many ways, this fruit contributed to colorism and self-hate within Bahamian society. I recontextualize this in my work.
Through painting, I center the Black female figure, blending elements of surrealism and abstraction to explore the connections between mango and woman.. The mango becomes a marker for both body and experience. My use of warm reds and yellow are indicative of a mangos flesh while hinting at the heat and life of a person’s body. The messier and sweeter part of the mango, shown through my incorporation of manipulated threads, represents a nuanced life experience. These threads extend from my canvas like connective tissue meant to evoke a visceral feeling from audiences who can and can’t relate.
