Nepahesh Sister Research Paper

NePhesh Sister is my wholistic spiritual connection I tried to achieve with my mother. The pain of not being able to communicate with my mother was devastating. I was trying to understand the purpose of life. I questioned is there a God? Painting allowed me to connect to my mother on a spiritual level that religion could not do. Painting NePhesh Sister, I began to see my mother’s eyes, I see her lips, I see her nose and I see her. Even though this is not a direct portrait of my mother, I feel her present in my space. Bible Study Tools refers to English translation of NePhesh as a living being or a soul. Even though there are other meanings for the Hebrew word, I use it as referenced in Genesis 2:7 of the man becoming a living nephesh. My mother was a devout Christian and went to church every Sunday. She sung in the choir, served on the Usher Board, and Women’s Guild Board. NePhesh Sister brought me closer to her and this is why I draped her in Kente cloth worn by Akan royalty. When my parents died painting gave me a different voice. Painting exposed me to …show more content…
School of Hardknocks is another picture I found in my mother’s photo album of me in kindergarten. Looking at the photograph of me with other children, I start to question, where is that little Black girl. There are children all around me of different gender and race smiling but still there is an unexplainable sadness to my face. All of the children are smiling and looking at the camera except me. I can’t remember what I was going through at that age, like most children who experience trauma you hide your feelings because you do not know how to express them out of fear of punishment. What I enjoyed about School of Hardknocks is how the painting made me feel. I use vibrant bright colors and smiling faces to help unmask the reality of life. When I look at School of Hardknocks today, I ask, are there other children in the portrait being