We are delighted to present Tyna Adebowale’s second solo exhibition in the gallery. They Call You Mother; They Call Me Mama focuses on the lived experiences of grandmothers who are raising their grandchildren. In Adebowale’s community of the Uneme, many women eagerly anticipate this stage of life, viewing the nurturing of the next generation in their “grand lineage” as a vital and fulfilling part of their maternal journey.
These new series of works pay homage to the remarkable strength and resilience of traditional care structures, which are sustained primarily by women but increasingly threatened by capitalist ways of living. It honours women’s unwavering commitment to caring for their community––regardless of children being of their own blood or not––and celebrates the cultural importance of nurturing the lineage.