Translating suffering through sculpture

Translating suffering through sculpture
AAHPM Quarterly; by Ronit Elk; 6/27/25
... I began to sculpt with clay at 15, and it was when the clay was in my hands that I became truly at one with what I was creating. I translated the untold suffering I had witnessed reflected in the eyes of the African women, together with their resilience and “can’t do otherwise” attitude, into the sculptures. I didn’t plan these, they literally emerged. In some of my sculptures the pain in the eyes of the women is so clear that people who see them often look away. In this sculpture I hope you can see reflected both the suffering of the African women and their strength and resilience to take care of and provide for their families and communities.
Publisher's note: This brief article is a heartfelt expression through the arts.