This work was created during an artist residency undertaken on invitation by Fondation H, Madagascar as part of the programming for touring exhibition, Memoria : récits d’une autre Histoire (Memoria: accounts of another History).

The three-piece suspended textile sculpture, Stories of our mothers, dialogues with pre-existing work, The Oculus/The Third Eye. This new work reopens the portal (The Oculus/The Third Eye) first activated in performance, Nude Me/Under the Skin: The Awakening of Black Women's Visibility, to the ancestral mothers and weaves connected links between the histories of West African and Malagasy maternal lineages. Through research and community engagement, stories of Malagasy women from history to the present day are embedded into the work. The piece serves as an archive, documenting the legacy of these women while providing a space for their spiritual fulfilment.

With thanks to workshop contributors for sharing their stories: Aina (photo of bicycle), Daniele (photo of ring), Faniry (photo of her and her daughters at her graduation), Hannah (photo of grandmother), Harilala (photo of necklace), Hobisoa (photo of her and her mother), Koloina (photo with her sister), Mino (photo of grandmother), Mioty (photo of train and mountain), Misa (family portrait), Perlestine (portrait), Tsiky (photo of leaves), Vololona (photo of hair braiding) - and Ndao Hanavao for their support.

Image credit: Fabio Andriamiarintsoa and the artist