YENTLE NYATSHANE

The deep and often unspoken impact that traditional societal norms, cultural expectations and religious ideologies have on the lives of women in Botswana is what my work explores. The secondhand experiences I have observed have resonated universally and affect women across all walks of life. I explore the psychological and emotional space shaped by the constructs which are surrounded by shame, fear, isolation and endurance through figurative oil paintings. At the center of my practice is a call to question the holistic sustainability of our current societal, cultural and religious views we live under.
 

I was inspired by multiple disciplines such as literature, journalism, societal commentary, but mostly the stories of the women around me. Their experiences and quiet struggles form the foundation of my work. Writers like Warsan Shire, Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche and Toni Morrison write about the uncomfortable truths that still go unaddressed, unnoticed and ignored. My work takes on the visual perspective of this concept and contributing to a larger conversation on social issues.
 

At its core, my work seeks to reflect on the psychological toll that conformity to social and cultural expectations has on women, the disconnect between society and self, and the emotional isolation that comes with systems that do not have women’s best interests at
heart. I strive to confront these difficult realities while affirming the complexity and strength of the women who live in them.