The Transformative and Symbolic Art of Kelly Sinnapah Mary

# Exploring Kelly Sinnapah Mary’s *The Book of Violette*

Kelly Sinnapah Mary, an artist of Indo-Caribbean heritage from Guadeloupe, has captivated audiences with her latest exhibition, *The Book of Violette*, at the James Cohan Gallery. This collection of paintings and mixed-media works explores identity, mythology, and transformation through vivid storytelling and powerful symbolism. Through her signature blend of surrealism and folklore, Sinnapah Mary delves into themes of womanhood, ancestral memory, and cultural hybridity, creating a visual world that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

## A Journey of Transformation

At the heart of *The Book of Violette* is the character Sanbras, who has appeared in Mary’s previous works. The show presents multiple versions of Sanbras, each embodying different aspects of transformation, power, and struggle. For example, *The Book of Violette: The Boots* depicts a young girl and boy mesmerized by a pair of red boots. Their awe suggests that these boots hold magical significance, much like in fairy tales where footwear alters destiny. This recurring theme of mystical elements influencing fate is woven throughout the exhibition.

Another striking piece, *The Book of Violette: Moving Mountains*, portrays the girl as an older, godlike figure with a tail and three eyes—a reference to Durga, the Hindu goddess associated with protection and destruction. Here, she performs the superhuman feat of lifting a mountainside, a testament to both divine strength and transcendent transformation.

## The Intersection of Myth and Reality

Sinnapah Mary’s work often bridges personal narratives with broader mythologies. Many of her paintings feature dark-skinned figures adorned with toile patterns of lush flora and fauna, signifying a deep-rooted connection to the Caribbean landscape. This artistic choice suggests that identity is not just inherited but inscribed into one’s very being.

In *The Book of Violette: Auntie Maryse*, the same protagonist appears as an adult bride figure with six arms, evoking Hindu deities and suggesting a multiplicity of selves. On the floor lie symbols of her past—her childhood shoes standing as if still inhabited, a blue ribbon that appears throughout the series—reminders of a lost innocence or evolving selfhood. This portrayal hints at the sacrifices and expectations placed on women as they navigate societal roles.

## A Tribute to Ancestral Stories

One of the most poignant aspects of *The Book of Violette* is its dedication to the artist’s grandmother. Sinnapah Mary imagines the stories that were never told, giving visual form to histories that are often silenced. In paintings such as *Invisible Vegetation of Desire*, a nude Violette lies in the grass, her body merging with nature. Her watchful gaze suggests anticipation—perhaps for a future yet to unfold or a fate yet to be written.

Sanbras, in her various forms, represents an evolving womanhood, one that shifts between celestial power and earthly experience. This fluidity challenges rigid definitions of identity and embraces the multiplicity of what it means to exist across cultures, histories, and mythologies.

## Conclusion

Through *The Book of Violette*, Kelly Sinnapah Mary provides viewers with a dreamlike yet deeply introspective exploration of femininity, cultural heritage, and transformation. Her paintings invite us to reflect on the ways we inherit, embody, and reinvent our own narratives. By blending folklore with personal history, she crafts a world where past and future, magic and reality, converge.

*The Book of Violette* continues at the James Cohan Gallery in Tribeca, Manhattan, until March 22, offering audiences a chance to step into the imaginative and thought-provoking universe created by this brilliant artist.