Who is Rose-Myrtha?
The name Rose-Myrtha (26, going on 27) is an amalgamation of the words Rosacae and Myrthacae. Both Rosacae and Myrthacae are the names of a plant family consisting of herbs, shrubs and trees with powerful healing properties, but they are also known for their beauty.
The collaboration of these two words sums up the essence, soul and spirit of Rose-Myrtha: a powerful being with healing properties, passionate about aesthetics. A passion she applies in her work as an artist, art curator, healer and plantswoman.
With her non-profit organisation Kuchukua Hatua, she has been curating various art exhibitions and workshops since 2016. In 2021, Rose-Myrtha made her debut as a visual artist.
Rose-Myrtha has her say
My art installation reflects my quest to reconnect. It functions as an altar, a portal and a communication medium with my ancestral memories and the Haitian God Ezilí Dantor. The art installation explores the deeply layered emotions of grief, resentment and anger associated with forced separation, intergenerational loss and broken commitments.
As a child, I always wondered what my mother looked like. I grew up without my mother and without a visual image of her. I was homesick for an image that was deeply rooted in my subconscious. My ancestors always told me to just look in the mirror. This is why I use a mirror in my art installation.
As a society, it is imperative that we focus on and consider the wounds carried by people from immigrant backgrounds.
What is homesickness?
I was born in Haiti and was adopted by a Belgian couple. I always carry feelings of grief, homesickness and loss with me. Because of my adoption, I miss my biological family and culture. Homesickness for me is about acknowledging and dwelling on the complex emotions of mourning and grief.
