Martine Hans-Jorie - 'Strange Fruit'

The collection presented by Martine Hans-Jorie depicts a kinaesthetic exploration of the artists cultural and emotional journey through black womanhood.

Taken from the notoriously politically charged protest song by Billie Holiday, the term ‘Strange Fruit’ refers to the hanging of black Americans from poplar trees in the 1930’s. Upon the songs release, the ongoing Civil rights movement meant that many were uncomfortable by the poetic mirror that Billie had held up to the white community, causing many audience members to leave her performances and many venues to prohibit her from performing.

Martine’s work draws on her own experience as a black woman confined and defined by societies discomfort with her cultural presence. The artist uses textile art to explore her journey throughout womanhood, with a particular focus on appearance (through the depiction of hair, clothes and skin).

The body of work explores several presentations of herself through a retrospective narrative – exploring the expectations of wider society, those around her, and the ever-dynamic expectations of oneself through a lens of experience. Through her body of work, the artist attempts to deliver care and acceptance that she withheld from herself at the early stages of her journey.

Martine Hans-Jorie connects her personal journey to Sarah Bonetta Forbe’s story through the orchestration of African fabrics that is woven into her work.