My name is Caeli Harris I’m a junior in the core program. One of the leaders of the Black fashion council. The images submitted are of my junior thesis.
"The Black Divine Feminine" Full 15 Look Collection, 2022, Digital Collage
Mood Board, 2022, Digital Collage
Mood Board, 2022, Digital Collage
Mood Board, 2022, Digital Collage
Look 1: Water, 2022, Photo by Josh Johnson
Look 2: Land, 2022, Photo by Josh Johnson
Look 3: Heaven, 2022, Photo by Josh Johnson
Group Picture of All 3 Looks, 2022, Photo by Josh Johnson
Junior Exhibition: Accessories, 2022, Installation
Junior Exhibition: Full Collection, 2022, Installation
Throughout my years in undergrad, I have been using my artwork as an exploration of my own identity. A conceptual goal throughout my work has been to push my understanding of Black culture and redefine how I see myself within this greater cultural context. My upcoming collection focuses on the aesthetic exploration of water as a portal to explain my definition of the Divine Black Feminine. Researching spiritual aspects of African culture has allowed me to further understand both physical and metaphysical connections between femininity and nature. I am interested in exploring the ways various African cultures define their views of femininity by exploring the way water has been historically tied to the divine feminine. The looks of my collection tell the story of how I have come to connect to divine femininity , which are represented in three sections depicting a journey of transformation through different spiritual water based planes inspired by Africa as a continent. Starting within the depths of the ocean, traveling through oases, and ending in the heavens forms an allegorical triad that explains the way water is used as a tool to translate the aspects of the divine feminine essence.
Looking at the connection of the diaspora through water and femininity it allows me to further look into the planet and ancestral plane. In many parts of Africa, water makes up one part of a philosophical triad of sky, water, and earth. Water is the part of the triad that’s constantly moving and changing. This intersection explains the influence of God, deity’s, and the ancestors in daily life.