Naomi Mendoza

Graduate Certificate of Visual Art

I AM Naomi Mendoza
I come from Trinidad and Tobago
two islands one nation, forged from the Love of Liberty
My Grandfather was a Griot
His stories run through Me,
His Carib-Creole Lion-Blood Kin
like the Mango-sugar-syrup running down My chin
like the Power of My Brown-Girl-in-the-ring, knees
like the nakedness of My feet climbing Pomerac trees
Soca in Meh Blood
Steele Pan in Meh Soul
Rapso de Riddim of Meh-people, till ah ole
red, white and black
crick crack monkey break he back
and daz de end ah dat.

My work is a constellation of identity. But most importantly a process of generational healing and celebration, led by my grandfather. I dip in and out of language, installation, audio-visual scaping, spoken word and storytelling.