Dery Christopher Tierzumo: Soul of the hearth. 2026
In this mixed‑media composition, I explore the resilience and everyday dignity of African womanhood through the act of cooking a universal ritual of sustenance and community. The figure, rendered with textured yarns and woven fabrics, stands at a fire, pouring life into a pot that symbolizes nourishment and tradition. The vibrant blue sky and humble thatched hut situate the scene in a rural African landscape, framed by a bold red border that celebrates cultural identity and craftsmanship. By using recycled textiles, beads, and corrugated cardboard, I highlight sustainability and the beauty of repurposed materials, honoring ancestral practices, while emphasizing the strength and grace inherent in daily domestic labor.
Materials used include: corrugated cardboard for the red frame, plastic rubbers, yarns or threads & fabric strips for the figure dress, and a hut, textile scraps for the pot & fire mosaic, and beads for the necklace.
Dery Christopher Tierzumo