Sula Bermúdez-Silverman's First Solo Museum Exhibition Explores Identity Through Ephemeral Materials

From 28 February 2020 to 2 May 2021, Sula Bermúdez-Silverman unveiled her first solo museum exhibition, titled 'Neither Fish, Flesh, nor Fowl,' at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles. This showcase comprised six pieces that delve into her Afro-Puerto Rican and Jewish roots, set against the backdrop of pandemic restrictions and a surge in racial justice movements. Her artistic approach merges collecting and constructing to explore the concept of fluid identity, utilizing materials such as personal belongings and ticket stubs. A highlight of the exhibition is a collection of ten dollhouses made of sugar and glass, which allude to the history of Puerto Rican plantations. Video pieces depict Rachel Dolezal braiding Bermúdez-Silverman's hair, while the display contrasts religious artifacts with modern objects, repurposing discarded items into archival works that provoke questions about artistic classification.