ARTIST STATEMENT
Imagine being too white to be black and yet too black to be white. 'Erased' explores the internalised disconnect and projection of my Burundian culture, as I find myself drifting away from a sense of belonging. As I navigate my adolescence through a culturally mixed lens, I have been forced to reflect on how tokenistic inclusion has changed my ability to authentically express my Burundian identity since immigrating to Australia from Tanzania in 2009. Inspired by Yinka Shonibare’s expressions of contemporary African identity, this is my struggle to protect my culture while also yearning to belong.
ARTWORK PROCESS
The dress was made by the student with traditional Burundian fabric. The artist wore the dress while holding a Kitwaro (gift basket) and filmed a performance where white hands smeared white paint on the dress while she was wearing it. For the final installation, two sets of before and after photos of the dress were displayed next to the dress. The film was displayed on a loop in the middle of the installation. The painted dress and Kitwaro are displayed on a mannequin next to the film.
