Liberian Literary Magazine
Promoting Liberian Literature, Arts and Culture
For instance, they each have a tub on their
head. What does it represent? Traditionally,
our women exhibit responsibility. In this
scene, it is more than just the laundry they
went to wash, it embodies the concept in its
entirety. She is responsible for her family, she
cares for them; she attends their needs and she
is conscious enough to know and perform her
duties. She makes time for her those things she
must do. She doesn’t have the luxury of
procrastination.
Looking closer, we see that each carries a
load. This tells many things as well. They are
each burdened with countless situations which
everyone expects them to solve. However, no
one really minds how they do so as long as it
get done. This is a burden for each, yet, it is
shared. That is part of the significance in the
trio. Over the years, they have come to value
the importance of sharing; not only good
times and things, but hard times and
problems. They find comfort and strength in
these connections they make. They are
psychologically better when they use each
other as bouncing boards. They find strength
in unity. However, despite the oneness, each
remains an individual. This fact most never be
lost on the observers. The unity brings
together the diversity but in a way that does
not erase the individuality.
THE WOMEN:
We see one who appears to be pregnant,
facing away from the two. Interestingly, she
wears red. My first thought was, “Could this
Tireless: A Woman’s Work Is
Never Don: A Review:
Reviewed by: D. Othniel Forte
Painted by Cher Corbin
Today, I came across a painting Tireless: A
Woman’s Work Is Never Done, by Cher
Antoinette. It struck a nerve. Coincidentally,
my wife and I happened to be talking about
the water challenge that went viral.
Specifically, we focused on its apparent
wastefulness. Having seen women often
walking several kilometer/miles to fetch water
[which they might later process if they were
fortunate] to drink, cook and do other
household chores, pouring perfectly good
water down o ne’s body doesn’t feel
challenging at all. So, what does this have to
do with the painting? How do we connect the
two?
I couldn’t help but notice the powerful
message of this painting. Color wise, it is
amazing. Message-wise, it is even more so.
be a coincidence, or is this artist really that in
tune with her message?” So I went back to
check the piece again and guess what I found?
There is no other red as deep and dominant
as that. This signified that the artist knew her
message. She wanted us to consider this
particular woman and her situation. She
needed us to pause on her, even if briefly, and
consider her.
She is pregnant! This is dangerous,
ordinarily she wouldn’t be in danger but she
is. She could lose the baby considering the high
mortality rate amongst women of her race.
The brownish-red which often suggests
harvest or the earth, solidifies that she is
Three women gather in the midst of a pool of
fresh water. What an image! What is special
about this image? It would appear ordinary;
and it certainly is, at least the occurrence is. So,
why bother with something seemingly
ordinary? Simply put, the story. The unwritten
story behind the image is the incredulity.
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