ABOUT REWRITING HISTORY
Fabiola Jean-Louis’ work is an exploration into the relationship between history, memory and identity. Her use of paper acts as a tether linking the present to a past when paper was not just a basic currency, but held the power to determine the freedom of a human being. From her paper gowns to the printed photographs, Jean-Louis guides us along her journey through the lens of time, bringing forth an awareness of the past that is both delicate and vital.
In the color photographs, female subjects look out from their frames, surrounded by the trappings of Baroque luxury, garbed in what appear to be fine silks and taffeta. In the background of each portrait, woven seamlessly among the vestiges of nobility are the shades of black men and women from history reminding us that there is a lineage of violence that persists today. The women of Jean-Louis’ work seek our attention, imploring us to acknowledge this heritage along with their powerful role in the present. Moving between the galleries, we cross the bright façade of a paper dollhouse and discover a safe house modeled after those along the route of the Underground Railroad. In the adjoining gallery, the female subjects have transformed from bold and opulent to more ethereal and self-reflective, reminding us of the quiet strength of those whose bodies made the dangerous passage to freedom.
When analyzing her work, we find that history is not immutable. Like memory, it must be constantly recalled, re-evaluated and re-integrated into the present. Who we are is linked inextricably to what we remember, both individually and collectively. Jean-Louis’ body of work addresses these complicated layers of self-awareness and what makes up the historical truths we have been taught to accept about race and the roles of women, both past and present.