Mankwali

"The weight we carry". This body of work explores the multifaceted concept of weight not simple as a physical burden but as an emotional psychological and cultural weight we bear through lived experience. The metaphor "the weight of the world on my shoulders is central to this narrative, evoking the often- invisible pressures of responsibility, survival, and identity. In my painting, I depicted a Mother seated in a red room, reading to her children of how to master, and prosper in this life.this seemingly serene moment speaks volumes about the strength and resilience required of women especially single mothers raising boys in a society that places unspoken expectation upon them. The warmth of the red room symbolizing the comfort and care of maternal love, while the black and white checkered floor suggests imbalance, tension, and the struggle to maintain harmony in the absence of a father figure. The window opens a portal to the rural outside world, signifying both relatedness and asolation. This contrast highlights how societal structures and traditional roles can magnify the weight carried by women particularly in cultural context where single motherhood is stigmatized or unsupported.

 The dice on the Mothers head symbolizes risks and challenges that she went through in order to support her children, it also reassemble resilience. Through these works , I invite viewers to confront their own perception of weight : how it manifest in the domestic sphere, how it shapes identity and overwhelming. This painting is a meditation on endurance, a tribute to women who carry so much, and a challenge to reflect on the systems that allow such imbalance to persist.