Portrait of a Poet - A Journey Through Layers

A series of portraits of poet Manka Menga inspired by her work. Through collaboration, intimate portraits were created, revealing different aspects of her personality. The lines on her face are like traces of life experiences that shaped her as an artist.

This portrait series of the poet is rooted in her work, which challenges societal norms and serves as a form of therapy.

Here is how Manka describes herself in her bio: “Manka Menga aka Dr. Winifrida John Mmasi MD (once upon a time and maybe sometime again in the future) is currently a multi-disciplinary artist who, through her poetry and visual arts, challenges learned internalized misinformation both personally and socially. Her poetry, deliberately sensual and blasphemous, serves as both therapy and a victory over her abusers and challenges the scope of self-expression afforded to African women and queer people. She is inspired by women who, through their defiance of societal norms, have achieved a place in both history books and the hearts and minds of society.”

The lines on her face, from a daily morning ritual in honor of her late grandmother, signify a connection to ancestral traditions. They are also like traces of life experiences that have shaped her as an artist. "A Journey Through Layers" reflects continuous self-discovery, much like reading, creating poems orphotographs. It's an intimate journey for each of us.

It delves into the emotional landscape of poet and invites viewers to connect with the universal human experience.