.theTempleofHerSkin: Tattoo/scarification stories
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.the temple of her skin is a visual documentary project exploring the stories and aesthetics around African women and our tattooing and scarification journeys. The series centers on African women in the diaspora and on the African continent- exploring traditional practices and aesthetics, and the largely undocumented world of how and why we inscribe our skin in contemporary tattoo and scarification.
.the temple of her skin is imagined and co-curated by Jessica Horn and Laurence Sessou - two activist-artists who met each other on the fringes of the tattoo scene, searching for other black women and for the deeper stories behind why we permanently adorn our skin as African women.
We have invited a group of stunningly diverse ink/scarred African women to be a part of the inaugural series of .the temple of her skin. With your initial support we have produced photos and film shorts that capture the stories behind our body art. These have been exhibited at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre (2021) and Femme Fatale Tattoo (2022) gathering in London, England. In February 2024 we were featured on CNN #AsEquals.
We are fundraising to bring the documentation snd exhibition to the African continent where we are from. We have filmed precious footage of traditional practitioners in Benin. Our next step is to document and exhibit in East and Southern Africa.
And for that... we need your help! We are calling on all lovers of ink and body art, lovers of African women's stories, of our (sub)cultures and alternative histories, of dope photography and the art of a great documentary to consider supporting this initiative. All funds will go towards the process of creating and exhibiting the documentary series.
Because our stories matter. And our skin speaks.
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UPDATE JANUARY 2020 .:. Documentation has begun! We are collaborating in London with Nigerian-Egytpian videographer and film director Dalia Dias (Cardi B, Stormzy) and Nigerian photographer and activistBumi Thomas to document the first incredible group of .temple women.
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UPDATE FEBRUARY 2024
With two successful exhibitions
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UPDATE FEBRUARY 2020 .:. Listen to .the temple of her skin co-creators Jessica Horn and Laurence Sessou interviewed on the award winning Stance Podcast alongside mavericks and creators Shingai, Gary Younge, Maaza Mengiste and Duro Olowu.
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UPDATE MAY 2020 .:. Our website is now live! Check it at www.thetempleofherskin.com
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UPDATE JULY 2020 .:. Our team has experienced everything the world has so far this year including Covid19! But we still managed to work on a sneak peak from our first shoot in London. Watch it here .
.the temple of her skin is imagined and co-curated by Jessica Horn and Laurence Sessou - two activist-artists who met each other on the fringes of the tattoo scene, searching for other black women and for the deeper stories behind why we permanently adorn our skin as African women.
We have invited a group of stunningly diverse ink/scarred African women to be a part of the inaugural series of .the temple of her skin. With your initial support we have produced photos and film shorts that capture the stories behind our body art. These have been exhibited at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre (2021) and Femme Fatale Tattoo (2022) gathering in London, England. In February 2024 we were featured on CNN #AsEquals.
We are fundraising to bring the documentation snd exhibition to the African continent where we are from. We have filmed precious footage of traditional practitioners in Benin. Our next step is to document and exhibit in East and Southern Africa.
And for that... we need your help! We are calling on all lovers of ink and body art, lovers of African women's stories, of our (sub)cultures and alternative histories, of dope photography and the art of a great documentary to consider supporting this initiative. All funds will go towards the process of creating and exhibiting the documentary series.
Because our stories matter. And our skin speaks.
//
UPDATE JANUARY 2020 .:. Documentation has begun! We are collaborating in London with Nigerian-Egytpian videographer and film director Dalia Dias (Cardi B, Stormzy) and Nigerian photographer and activistBumi Thomas to document the first incredible group of .temple women.
//
UPDATE FEBRUARY 2024
With two successful exhibitions
//
UPDATE FEBRUARY 2020 .:. Listen to .the temple of her skin co-creators Jessica Horn and Laurence Sessou interviewed on the award winning Stance Podcast alongside mavericks and creators Shingai, Gary Younge, Maaza Mengiste and Duro Olowu.
//
UPDATE MAY 2020 .:. Our website is now live! Check it at www.thetempleofherskin.com
//
UPDATE JULY 2020 .:. Our team has experienced everything the world has so far this year including Covid19! But we still managed to work on a sneak peak from our first shoot in London. Watch it here .
Organiser
Laurence Sessou
Organiser
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