Immanuel Powell
My work explores the convergence of identity, cultural memory, and spiritual force. In this series, I turn my lens toward the profound power of the feminine spirit, finding a resonance between personal journey and ancient myth. "Yemoja" is a meditation on duality: the calm depth of healing set against the raw, dynamic power of transformation. These portraits are an act of visual syncretism, translating the timeless wisdom of the Orisha into a contemporary language of light and form. I seek to illuminate the idea that the greatest human power is found in the ability to both nurture and command the storm within.
YEMOJA
This photographic study embodies the energy of Yemoja, the revered Yoruba Orisha (deity) of the living ocean.
The aesthetic choice of a monochromatic blue spectrum elevates the subject into an ethereal realm, signifying the boundless domain of water and the cool, protective essence of the Mother-Goddess.
The Full Portrait: The figure, bathed in soft, diffused light , rises as the goddess manifests. The motion-blurred background suggests the ethereal mist above the crashing waves—a symbol of the spiritual realm merging with the physical. The fluid lines of the dress echo the endless, nurturing movement of the sea.
The Close Portrait: This tight crop, viewed from an abstract, aerial perspective , captures the tumultuous churn where the ocean meets the sand. The glittering contour on the brow symbolizes the unearthed minerals and reflective light on the water's surface, representing the ceaseless process of change, power, and revelation.
The work is a visual homage to spiritual progression and the ocean’s complex, healing power.
Yemoja, The Mother of Waters
Yemoja is a major deity in the Yoruba religion, venerated as the Mother of All Orishas and Humanity. Her name, translated as "Mother Whose Children are the Fish," defines her role as the source of all waters and the patron of motherhood, fertility, and protection.
The Hanging Heart
"Gran's Garden" isolates the banana blossom (or 'heart')—a symbol of future fruit and family sustenance—hanging suspended between the light and shadow of the wall. The dramatic contrast and high texture emphasize the quiet strength of the plant's structure, mirroring the matriarchal spine of the home itself. Surrounded by the constant flux of construction and cultivation in my grandmother's yard, this image serves as a tribute to her unwavering love and legacy. It encapsulates the idea that true heritage is found in the places that feed us, shelter us, and bear silent witness to all of life's fleeting moments.
