Words become Butterflies (2017, 09:09 min) is an experimental, non-linear performative narrative that explores the cultural traditions of body modifications in Benin, my grandmother’s homeland. This piece combines performance on 8mm film, transferred to video, with painting and experimental sounds from the Gulf of Guinea, creating a multi-sensory experience that challenges the viewer to reflect on these practices.

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In many cultures, including Benin, systematic violence and traditional practices of body mutilation have denied women their autonomy, often justified in the name of cultural preservation. Words become Butterflies confronts these accepted norms, giving voice to the silenced women whose bodies have borne the weight of these traditions. The video’s fragmented, non-linear structure mirrors the disjointed and traumatic experiences of these women, while the evocative soundscape amplifies the emotional depth of the narrative. This work is both a reflection on the past and a call to address the ongoing struggles for women’s rights and body autonomy in the present day. Through its powerful visual and auditory language, Words become Butterflies seeks to grant both body and memory their rightful space to speak, urging viewers to engage with this crucial, yet often muted, debate in the 21st century.

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Materials: superimpose paintings, drawings and super 8 film, hybrid with experimental sounds, and performance exported to HD video on a LED monitor in a wooden box.

Hermafrodek Op. 1 No. 2 (2022)