Lives and works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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My work explores knowledge through the realm of spirituality and the physical, speaking to the ways that family, social status and trauma may be carried in the body. Much of my work occurs through active listening, observation and recollection. I began making images of the women who were connected to me through my mother’s life. In a way, it became a search for my mother through them. While sharing memories of her, they also shared stories of their own migration to the States.
Referencing the images from my mother’s album and thinking about how people are dressed and the interior spaces that served as backdrops compared to my own work made prior, I’ve come to the conclusion that there are many parallels and that surprised me. The subconscious similarities between my mother’s photo and my own work highlights a spiritual connection to history and our current selves. This leads me to see a meaning in not only connecting my past to my present but showing others that they can fill in the gaps as well. Oftentimes immigration breaks cracks into our minds and I’m really proud of creating a work that can extend healing to so many people in that way.
Artist Biography
Naomieh Jovin is a first generation Haitian-American visual artist. In her work, she utilizes appropriated photos from old family albums and incorporates her own photographs to try and recreate similar moments. This process is meant to illustrate resistance and intergenerational trauma and how we carry them through our bodies. The incorporation of appropriated family photos, writings from relatives, and her own personal work allows Jovin to reflect on her family history, while paying homage to generations before her and their generational resistance against erasure.
instagram.com/njovn
