CelineSianiDjiakoua

Snake and fish women are very present in my work. These drawings were inspired by a dream where two yellow pythons passed swimming by me. 

“But a mermaid has no tears, and therefore she suffers so much more.”   "But if you take my voice, said the little mermaid, what will I have left? Your beautiful body," said the witch. "Your graceful walk and your lovely eyes. Speak with them and you will be able to capture a human heart." “Have you lost your courage? Stick out your little tongue, and let me cut it off in payment, and you shall have the potion ." "Here it is," said the witch, and cut out the little mermaid's tongue.” The Little Mermaid - H. C. Andersen "But a mermaid has no tears, and therefore she suffers so much more."

Whose revolution is this anyway? My liberation was not built As a play pen For your dreams Don't give you access to my pleasures Ad hoc and duty free Do not think my heart and mind Are not important, secondary No, remember this sweet nothing My liberation's not for thee I wear my heart and my sex Draped upon my sleeve Yet some of yall seem to think That i am brash and too feisty Until you want it for yourself In whatever ways you feel Touch it feel it hold it own it But only momentarily Cos deep down Where truth resides I think that what this really means Is that i am but a dolly With a button and a key No, remember this sweet nothing My liberation ain't for thee Wanna fetishize my freedoms Lick the flesh of fantasy Exoticise Eroticise - the vessel That you see You see that lioness, sat regal Yet without the claws n teeth You see that goddess, in me able Yet compliant with your needs But you f...

"Deep Sea is the culmination of a three-week residency, which was awarded to Céline Siani Djiakoua as the Surface Gallery prize for the Nottingham Castle Open 2015. Deep Sea is a show concerned with the migrant crisis, colonisation and imperialistic values. Using large scale drawings and ink paintings, tinted fabric and sound installation, the exhibition evokes the struggles of opposing forces at work within the world. The overwhelming presence of the colour blue reminds us of the deep seas and the fluid and sensual qualities of water. The exhibition offers many levels of readings, with references to feminist French philosopher Luce Irigaray and also Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. It is a show to be experienced both sensually and intellectually.  Deep Sea includes a specially commissioned sound piece by filmmaker and creative writer Ioney Smallhorne."    ...