“Ties Woven” by Sena Locco

Portraits of Afro-Caribbean women that question the political body of these committed women, in dialogue with traditional fabrics from different African countries.

The women Sena Locco paints come from Guadeloupe, Martinique, Brazil, Haiti, and Cuba. They are artists, feminist activists, and environmentalists: Anyes Nöel, Béatrice Manigat, Assata Shakur, Djamila Ribero, and others. Following in the footsteps of Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, the artist reveals their dignity and commitment. In doing so, she questions the perception of self and the Other. Through the personalities and histories of her models, Sena Locco also speaks of diasporas. In her paintings, the artist links female figures to traditional African fabrics, which seem to project themselves beyond the canvases to inhabit the exhibition space. Often woven by women, these fabrics are the result of centuries-old artisanal manufacturing processes. Each form has a meaning. Each symbol is the fruit of ancestral knowledge, held by those initiated into it. Associated with these ancient textiles, the women depicted are placed in a return to their origins by the artist, who, at the same time, chose them for the place and role they occupy in the contemporary world: coming from the historical diaspora, they are the Africa of today. For the artist, "they are searching for their roots and the essence of black femininity."

Biography:

Sena Locco discusses her own story and her questions surrounding the representation of the Black female body, often objectified and reified. Born in Guadeloupe like her mother of Indian origin, the artist grew up in Togo, her father's country of origin. She arrived in Paris at the age of 18 to study law. She has always had an interest in the artistic field and is self-taught, driven by the need to experiment with painting as a means of expressing herself and exploring her surroundings.

Artist contact:

Instagram - @sena_locco

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