Tessa Mars Explores Migration and Vodou Spirituality in Mexico City Solo Show

Tessa Mars's solo exhibition 'Nan Dòmi: las canciones que cantamos' at Casa del Lago UNAM in Mexico City, curated by Eva Posas, ran until November 17, 2024. The show centers on the Haitian lullaby 'Dodo titit' to examine how displaced individuals maintain connections to their homeland through spirituality. Mars creates surreal scenes inspired by Vodou imagery, featuring hybrid beings that represent ancestral guidance. Works like 'Pitit Ayida (Daughter of Ayida)' and 'One Shared Breath (A Name Shared)' depict serpent-women and rooted figures, referencing the Vodou loa Ayida Wedo. The installation includes a dimly lit, cocoon-like space with distorted recordings of the lullaby, creating an intimate ritualistic atmosphere. Paintings such as 'A Song for an Island on Fire' contrast serene figures with hostile environments, reflecting Haiti's insecurity crisis. Mars deconstructs Western-centric narratives about Haiti and the Caribbean, questioning how we inhabit land alongside those who came before. The exhibition links migratory experience to spirituality, exploring concepts of dreams, belonging, and collective memory.