Apocalypse: Lifting of the Veil; complexity of an unspoken aspect of the female experience

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“The works I produce are inspired and guided by a quest to deepen the spiritual, emotional and psychological understanding of the numerous conflicting roles that have been attributed to women in contemporary society.” Katrina Coombs

As I listened to her speak, I was caught up in her cadence. I closed my eyes, and used my four other senses to feel through her thoughts. A picture is worth a thousand words, and somehow, she was able to articulate her process enough that I was able to feel through her work, through her words.

She artistically found a way to connect me to her art, by helping me paint a picture with her words. I knew that I had to share this with our community here in Canada. Her practice engages the role and existence of the woman, and because of that, I was swept away in her metaphors.

Apocalypse: Lifting of the Veil is a multidisciplinary art piece being created for the Kingston Biennial, and is to be held at the National Gallery of Jamaica in December 2021. The National Performance Network (NPN) Documentation & Storytelling Initiative Grant, and the Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator, is helping to fund the project.

Often autobiographical, the work of the talented, and internationally renowned artist Katrina Coombs investigates the role of the woman’s body as a sanctuary, a vessel, and a portal through which energies pass and the ‘I’ becomes absent.

Her practice initially spoke to her own voice and experiences, however, it has now taken a turn in which it seeks to directly engage with other women and their experiences. Her work addresses issues related to the maternal body and functions, which are often considered too taboo to speak of.

Apocalypse: Lifting of the Veil will use visuals and performances to help the African diaspora understand the experiences of women who have lost a child during some stage of their pregnancy, or immediately following childbirth.

The performance driven art experience will deepen the collective understanding of the complexity of this unspoken aspect of the female experience. There needs to be an awareness of the trauma experienced and the ways in which, as women, we are impacted physically, emotionally and psychologically by the loss of a developing child. It enables healing and new beginnings, individually and collectively for those who have experienced such loss directly and indirectly.

The loss of a newborn or a premature foetus is an experience that remains with a mother for the rest of her life. The trauma leaves a woman with a series of emotions that are often difficult to articulate. Unfortunately, many women end up shouldering the blame for the loss experienced, and they are unable to share this pain with friends and family members.

Katrina’s work has become manifestations of these emotional celebrations and conflicts. Understanding how women respond to the experiences of miscarriages, abortions, birth complications, or stillbirth is the focus of this multidisciplinary art project, and thankfully, Katrina was open to giving me a few minutes of her time to share her journey.

“This project,” Katrina began, “has been evolving for the past year. Topics like this are difficult to discuss and for many Jamaican’s this is not a topic that is discussed at all. I am literally ‘lifting the veil’ on topics of this matter, and providing a platform for women to voice their thoughts and feelings.

This work has always been personal to me, but with this project, I realized that it didn’t have to just be my voice. The voices of women across the Caribbean will be embedded into the framework of this project. There are so many women who have a story, and who want to share it.”

Here is the call to action. Below is the link that women can share their stories. If you have lost a child at any stage of pregnancy then your participation in this project is welcome.  What you share will be inscribed on felted fabrics, which will be cocooned within a vessel. This vessel will become a part of the main sculpture and during the performance aspect of the project later this year.

As difficult as this topic is, there are so many women who do have something to say, and need a safe place to share their thoughts. The hope is that the project will bring peace to the hearts and minds of women everywhere.

https://katrinacoombs.wordpress.com/apocalypse-lifting-of-the-veil/the-voices-of-loss/.