She turned the sun and moon into a salve, Mawu and Lisa is a body of work reflective of my desire to embrace all aspects of my character. I've painted a 1996 Lil’ Kim aspread her debut album Hardcore, and the fictional character Mercedes, from Katori Hall’s P Valley. Together they create a totem of raw feminine agency. 

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Mahari Chabwera

Lil Kim as Lisa 

Pt. 1 of She turned the sun and moon into a salve, Mawu and Lisa

Oil, shells acrylic, fabric and beads on stretched canvas 

48 x 48 inches

2022

Mahari Chabwera

Mercedes as Mawu 

Pt. 2 of She turned the sun and moon into a salve, Mawu and Lisa

Oil, acrylic and fabric on stretched canvas 

48 x 48 inches

2022

Lil Kim as Lisa moon detail 

Lil Kim as Lisa sun detail 

Mahari Chabwera

Beaded Sun w/ Cowrie 

Pt. 3 of She turned the sun and moon into a salve, Mawu and Lisa

Oil, acrylic, beads and fabric on stretched canvas 

12 x 12 inches

2022