For me this piece has a lot of meaning. To be a fat Black Woman in the U.S. is often an experience too painful and intricate to describe effectively in a few sentences. We are rarely portrayed in such a positive light. A lot of what I associate with Ballet is beauty, grace, gentility, and they present each fluid motion in such a delicate way that aligns very directly with this traditional idea of femininity. Some of the most prominent stereotypes associated with Black Women are anger, masculinity, aggression, and being loud. This monolithic ideal of Black Women directly conflicts with the presentation of ballet. So I wanted to show Black Women in this light and challenge that narrative. There is also a lot of sizeism in ballet. So I really loved the idea of fat Black Women dismantling every box that society tries to put them in. Dance as an artform is using your body to make beautiful art/tell a story. So I love the idea of the movement/shapes of Fat Black bodies being beautiful art. Also at its core Ballet as an art form has a lot in common with Black Women. In actuality, ballet requires incredible strength, intentionality, control, determination, and hardwork. It can be grueling but they make each movement look smooth and effortless. I think the same could be said for many Black Women and especially fat Black Women. I want to continue to challenge these categories our brains want to put people into in order to make it easier for our brains to organize this information. People are too complex and unique to simply fit into a box.
SIZE: 20 x 24 inches
