Title:
It Means Everything
Because This Is Who I Am
(2022-ongoing)
This series is an ongoing exploration of identity and human connection—driven by curiosity and sha- ped by experiences of loss.
‘It Means Everything Because This Is Who I Am’ reflects on the importance of representation, the pro- found impact of adoption, the continuous process of embracing who we are, and finding ways how to carry what loss leaves behind.
I was born in Haïti and later adopted into a white family in the Netherlands. Rooted in this, I have often found myself questioning my sense of self, and so I asked:
How do you shape your identity when you have already lost fundamental pieces?
Through photography, film, poetry, and tactile elements, I navigate this question by exploring themes of family, friendship, home, belonging, and the emotional voids that can exist within these connec- tions. I took on both literal and metaphorical journeys, and, while being moved by stories shared along the way, I dared to delve into my own story—creating space for joy, grief, and hope to emerge together, honoring the layered nature of our shared experiences.
‘Manman Ayiti’ | video installation | duration 05’00”
The first video opens the series and stands as its most intimate. In it, I am seen repeatedly doing my hair—a routine transformed into ritual. This repetition speaks to an ongoing journey, capturing the complexity of Afro hair and the deeply personal act of reclaiming its beauty, a beauty I couldn’t see for a long time, and one I’m still learning to embrace. Woven into the work is the voice of my mother in Haïti, whom I recently found and have since connected with online. She greets me in French, then speaks both her name and mine. Her voice is more than sound; it is the resonance of a past I had been separated from, and one I have now been fortunate enough to reconnect with.