Artist: Mala Ramcharan; 2025
Material: Acryl/ Canvas 100%cotton
Dimension: 80x120 cm
Price: 1775 euro
Original painting: 4775,00euro
"Lady Agnisa" the story:
Agnisa is the name of the headwrap worn by the lady in red.
It is a part of Surinamese-Creole women's traditional clothing “the Koto Misi”, see picture below. During the time of slavery, this clothing was required for enslaved women to cover their bodies.
Currently this traditional clothing is worn at special occasions or to celebrate the end of slavery in Suriname and the Dutch Caribbean.
This celebration is called Keti Koti in Suriname, meaning "Break the Chains and Celebrate Freedom and in the United States, this is called Juneteenth. The end of slavery took place on June 1, 1963, in Suriname and on June 19, 1965, in America.
There are various ways to tie the headwrap, and each style carries a unique meaning. This fascinated me, inspiring me to explore its significance. I ultimately chose this particular style because it symbolizes; "What your heart holds doesn't show on your face; love is above all.
