Portraits of women featured on the covers of fictional magazines entitled ICONIC, arranged like a family tree adorned with repetitive patterns. At the centre of each one, a black-and-white portrait of a woman is partially covered by complex, repetitive patterns in blue, purple, pink and brown, which seem to take over the composition. The text includes phrases such as “FEARLESS WOMAN”, “STRONG WOMAN” and “BRAVE WOMAN”… in gold lettering at the bottom of the cover, as well as other subheadings in English, such as “Eat Clean: Easy ways to stay on track!” and “25 ideas to charge up your life.” The date “AUGUST 2024” and the issue number “ISSUE NO. 17” also appear at the top. The style combines contemporary graphic elements with refined typography.
Portraits of five women. This video, created using artificial intelligence, gives a voice to my grandmother, who brings us – the women of our family – to life, adding a vibrant dimension to our family heritage. She talks about our history, our roots and the importance of memory in our culture.
The close-up portrait shows a woman in a three-quarter profile, in black and white, against a background partially covered with detailed blue patterns, which take up a large part of the image, particularly the lower half.
In this portrait, my mother is depicted with pride. She embodies the blend of cultures, a heritage that reflects the diversity of our family history. The patterns evoke the spiritual bond that unites us.
In ICONIC – Matriarchal Heritage II, the video accompanying these portraits—in which my grandmother’s (AI-generated) voice is heard—reinforces this therapeutic dimension whilst bridging the past, the present and the future, highlighting the wisdom of Indigenous American and African ancestors:
“Death is not the end; it is the beginning of a journey. I am a woman of the roots, emerging from the earth, from the water, and from the sky. When you look at me, know this well: I am always with you. Before us, there were the Arawak, there were the Kalinagos; they are the ones who paved our path, and our ancestors who will guide you. I, a dark-skinned woman, draw my strength from the earth. Yet I am a woman who has always stood in the middle. Our family is a mix: I may have African roots, whilst your mother takes her Indian heritage from your grandfather. We are all rooted together, and God and our ancestors give us strength. Life never ends; I am always here, in every breath, in every glance you cast, in every sensation you feel. We will never leave you all alone.”
This is a tribute to our ancestors, a way of doing them justice and giving them a voice. These 50-second animated portraits, created using AI and digitised, depict my grandmother (and her descendants), a pillar of my matriarchal lineage. The designs, drawn with a ballpoint pen, symbolise the richness of our African and Indigenous heritage. Each colour was chosen to reflect her personality and her story; the layout was created on Canva using family photographs, the AI animation was produced on DreamFace, and the editing was done on InShot.
The close-up portrait shows an elderly woman viewed from the front, in black and white, against a background partially covered with detailed brown patterns, which occupy a large part of the image, particularly the lower half. This first portrait is reminiscent of my grandmother. Her story is woven through the generations, stretching from the Arawak and Kalinago peoples to my grandfather’s Indian heritage. The patterns in the foreground, like a piece of jewellery, pay tribute to her strength and resilience.
The close-up portrait shows a young woman viewed from the front, in black and white, against a background partially covered with detailed pink patterns, which take up a large part of the image, particularly the lower half.
This portrait of my eldest sister represents hope. The patterns surrounding her symbolise the continuity of our heritage and the importance of women in our family.
The close-up portrait shows a young woman viewed from the front, in black and white, against a background partially covered with detailed purple patterns, which take up a large part of the image, particularly the lower half.
This portrait of my younger sister captures youth and its carefree spirit. The patterns reflect our spiritual connection and our place within a strong lineage.
The close-up portrait shows a young woman viewed from the front, in black and white, against a background partially covered with detailed blue patterns, which occupy a large part of the image, particularly the lower half.
This portrait, which features me, is an authentic exploration of my identity. Overlaid with the patterns I have created, it symbolises the richness of my African and Indigenous American heritage. The ballpoint pen details are more visible, emphasising the finesse and depth of each stroke. Through this work, I seek to reflect not only my personality, but also the complexity of the collective identity that I represent.
