Fashion
In the Art of Tonia Nneji and Zohra Opoku, Poignant Narratives of Healing
While Nneji’s new exhibition, “You May Enter,” considers how women negotiate varying degrees of physical and emotional trauma, Opoku’s latest work considers mortality and the afterlife….
Opoku has a tradition of using old family textiles in her work, and thereby weaving past histories into her current life. In Chapter 1, I Am Made Strong, she represents different parts of her body abstractly dismembered from the whole; screen-printed images of her head, torso, and arms sit in the left-hand corner of the linen cloth. Images of bare winter tree limbs are colored in red and purple and pink, as though caught in various stages of a winter sunset, and superimposed as skin on her body, and where her face should be. An outstretched hand bears an image of her real face, balanced on the tips of her fingers as if for a better view of the approaching, unknown future. A series of closed and open hands, and separate cutout images of her lips, nose, eye, and ear float in the air against more barren tree limbs, their spindly branches colored yellow and set on a dark background like a wallpaper of X-rayed human veins. For Opoku, trees symbolize life, and also the reality that as our human bodies die, they are making a slow return to the earth from which they came. Adding color to these images gratified her hunger for vibrance during treatment in wintry Berlin, and recalled the colorful life in Ghana that she suddenly had to abandon.
Creating I Am Made Strong was a way for Opoku to reflect on what was happening to her body. “I needed something to get away from my worries and to reflect on my journey in a different way. I wanted to transform it from this terrifying moment into a moment of peace,” she explains. An encounter with an exhibition on ancient Egypt at the New Museum in Berlin proved deeply influential. Taken by the ancient Egyptian belief in the afterlife, Opoku began to study the Book of the Dead, a compilation of Egyptian texts to help the deceased navigate the afterlife and reach a paradise symbolic of their lives on earth. “I was so moved by how the Egyptians reconciled with death, that I started thinking about my own possible death differently,” Opoku says. “If I was meant to leave this life soon, I wanted to create my own chapters reflecting on mortality, and preparing for whatever lay beyond.”
Still undergoing treatment, Opoku shared that being touched and examined by so many different sets of hands “felt like my body’s parts were being separated from the whole, like I was being dismembered. And yet it was all part of this journey towards healing. I had to find a way to access and focus on another part of my identity that could feel whole, since my body couldn’t.” Turning the experience into material for her work helped Opoku create a sense of distance from her actual human body, and use it to reflect on the fullness of her human spirit. “In the ancient texts I was researching, hands were always used to pass on something or explain something vital to the journey towards the afterlife. I was trying to find parallels in my own work, to transform the meaning of all these real, physical hands poking and prodding me, fragmenting my body, into something more symbolically healing, and perhaps even preparing me for my own potential afterlife.”
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Mike Amiri’s Fashion Empire, Unveiling the 2024 Net Worth of the Trendsetting Designer
Mike Amiri’s Fashion Empire, Unveiling the 2024 Net Worth of the Trendsetting Designer
Artist Spotlight
Shreyaa Sumi: A Red Carpet Sensation with a Story of Triumph
In the glitzy world of fashion and entertainment, certain personalities shine bright, capturing the hearts of audiences worldwide. One such luminary is Shreyaa Sumi, a multi-talented individual who has left an indelible mark on the global fashion scene. Shreyaa has become a symbol of success, juggling roles as an American model, actress, and a devoted wife and mother. Let’s delve into the fascinating journey of this accomplished individual who recently graced the Los Angeles fashion show with her stunning presence.
Red Carpet Glamour at Los Angeles Fashion Show:
Shreyaa Sumi recently stole the spotlight at a Los Angeles fashion show, turning heads with her radiant red look. The Instagram sensation posted a video flaunting her glamorous ensemble – a short and sassy red dress paired with long black shoes and a chic red jacket. The caption, “What time is it? It’s showtime! Thank you for inviting me to your private NY Red Carpet event,” exuded confidence and excitement. The location tag placed her at the heart of the entertainment world – Los Angeles, Hollywood.
Early Life and Modelling Beginnings:
Shreyaa Sumi embarked on her modeling journey in India, where her passion for fashion and media first took root. However, it wasn’t until she moved to the United States with her husband Vijai, that she decided to pursue her dreams on an international scale. From that point forward, there was no looking back for Shreyaa.
Family and Personal Life:
Beyond the glitz and glamour, Shreyaa Sumi is a proud wife to Vijai and a doting mother to her daughter, Sia Vijai. Her ability to balance a thriving career with family life is a testament to her resilience and dedication. In media interviews, Shreyaa has openly shared how her family has been her pillar of support, standing by her throughout her journey to turn dreams into reality.
Awards and Accolades:
Shreyaa Sumi’s success in the fashion industry is underscored by a slew of prestigious awards. In 2022, she clinched the title of Mrs Universe Asia USA, a testament to her excellence on the international stage. Additionally, she has been honored with a doctorate, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the fields of media and fashion. Shreyaa also holds the Asia’s Women of Influence Lifetime Achievement Award, further solidifying her status as an industry trailblazer.
Shreyaa Sumi’s story is one of triumph, resilience, and unwavering determination. From her modest beginnings in Tamilnadu, India, to gracing the red carpet in Hollywood, she has come a long way. As an American model, actress, and a devoted wife and mother, Shreyaa Sumi continues to inspire aspiring individuals in the fashion and entertainment industry. With a string of accolades to her name and a supportive family by her side, Shreyaa is indeed a force to be reckoned with in the world of glamour and fame.