DECOLONISING OUR LOVE
(A LOVE LETTER FROM THE DIASPORA)

Sal:mender asks: How can the reaffirmation of Black Caribbean modern identities nurture love and self-acceptance?

In his book titled, Transubstantiating the Intimate: The Role of Autobiographical Elements in the Poetry of Kamau Brathwaite, the writer Cyril Vettorato talks about the Bajan poet Kamau Brathwaite; and the complexities of writing about the self. He quotes fellow writer Rosali Baena: ‘‘ [...] postcolonial and immigrant writing of the self “contribute[s] to the recognition of the self not as a unified or stable entity, but rather as fragmented, provisional, multiple, in process’’’’. These writings echo the difficulties of establishing one’s identity, and the struggles one can face while learning about this identity.

But reaffirming ourselves through culture, could be a way for us not only assemble the mosaic of our identities, but also learn to appreciate its complexity, while loving ourselves. Therefore, we might wonder, how can the reaffirmation of Black Caribbean modern identities nurture love and self-acceptance? In other words, how can one learn to love, and accept oneself through their culture.

Reaffirming these Black Caribbean modern identities as a member of the diaspora, means connecting with this cultural identity, without going as far as claiming the experience of those living in the homeland. Curated through different black gazes, this exhibition is an exploration of the different elements that can constitute one’s cultural identity; and displays how they can contribute to a more self-loving journey. Through their stories, our artists have targeted areas in which cultural identity serves as a foundation for self-love.