Leiyana Simone: Black Biennial

This week I wanted to share my submission for the Black Biennial exhibition at RISD. This is my statement: This piece was created during my first self portrait session entitled “Rebirth”. This set was created with the intention of honoring my own personal rebirth. After having my dreadlock’s for nearly five years, I felt it was the time to part ways and so I cut them off last September. I wanted to cut my hair to physically and spiritually cut ties with all of the emotional weight I felt that was tied within them. I believe hair carries energy and I was ready for a shift in mine. I wanted to create a fresh start in every aspect of my life. I believe that action created a chain reaction of a beautiful new chapter of my life filled with new beginnings, opportunities, and experiences. 

I feel like it was only right to honor this chapter through exploring self portraiture. So I chose to create a set with objects that all represent purification, protection, cleansing, and balance. The sea salt, white candles, amethyst, pyrite, incense, and pomegranates. It was important to highlight the pomegranates because they are a symbol of prosperity, hope, and abundance. Other metaphysical properties of pomegranates include hearing your inner voice, protection, wisdom, wishes, growth, new beginnings, death, and rebirth.