at Nest, Den Haag during the exhibition Searching For Oneself Outside.
"How does the way you use language relate to your identity? Do you become more aware of your language when you are not part of the social norm?
These questions are at the heart of Zela Odessa Palmer's work. She creates spatial poetry by combining both images and words. For Palmer, the relationships between language and image are like the relationships between identity and environment. All of them are only a small part of a larger story. As a queer woman of color, it is valuable to her to make these relationships visible. It is a way of expressing oneself when our common language falls short.
At Nest, Palmer developed a wall drawing over the course of two weeks. The design includes several smaller fragments on paper and cotton. By referencing the margins in our society, Palmer explores her own position in public spaces and how the relation between language and identity plays a big part. margins, borders & boundaries is a collage of intuitive thoughts and personal observations. Palmer examines our use of language and questions what would happen when language would be absent."
photos by Kyle Tryhorn.