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INSPIRED BY THE WORKS OF CUBAN ARTIST BELKIS AYON
A MYSTERIOUS AND TRAGIC PRINT MAKER FROM CUBA THAT CREATED PIECES INSPIRED BY RELIGION. NOT THE KIND PRACTICED BY PRIESTS AND NUNS BUT A SECRET SOCIETY THAT ORIGINATED IN NIGERIA. ABAKUA WAS PRACTICED BY AFRICAN SLAVES IN THE 19TH CENTURY. SHE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THIS RELIGION OR SECRET SOCIETY BUT CAME UPON THIS SUBJECT AS A TEENAGER. SHE BORROWED MYTHS AND ICONOGRAPHY FOR HER ARTWORK AND BECAME DEEPLY FOCUSED ON THE SUBJECT.
AS A WOMAN SHE WOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO JOIN IN THE PRACTICES OF THE ABAKUA. THE PRACTICES HAD PARALLELS TO CHRISTIANITY BUT THE MYTHS TELL A STORY OF THE QUEEN SIKAN. SHE HELD POWERFUL SECRETS GIVEN BY AN ENCHANTED FISH SWORN TO NEVER TELL ANYONE. TEMPTATION GOT THE BEST OF HER AND IT COST HER TO BE SACRIFICED. THIS CAUSED THE ABAKUA TO BAN ANY WOMAN TO JOIN THE PRACTICES. THE ABAKUA ARE ANTISOCIAL; THEY DO NOT ENJOY ANY MUSIC OR DANCES CATALOGUED WITH THEIR NATION.
MOOD / CONCEPT BOARD