On Woman
A reflection on a kind of innate power
I have come to recognise a kind of power within women. I have always sensed it. Growing up with a single mother, I remember her forgoing lunch to prioritise my brother and me. So yes, I have long known it to exist.
More recently, though, I have witnessed this power more clearly. There is a moment of transformation when someone shifts from uncertainty to complete focus. It made me ask, what changes? What acts as a catalyst for that kind of growth?
There is no single answer, and reducing it to one would be a disservice. What does stand out is the role of self-belief and self-perception. The idea that “you can do it” can push people beyond hesitation into action, into a kind of productive intensity that builds bridges where others saw only gaps.
Having seen this first-hand, I am aware of the role I can play: creating space to support bold ideas, or simply offering what skills I have. It doesn't take much. Small gestures, consistently offered, can move something forward.
I find myself thinking about what it means to be alongside that kind of growth by making room for it. To say yes when it matters, and step back when that matters more.
Witnessing this has made me more conscious of the space I take up, and the space I can help open up for others.
Pairing this text with Bisila Noha’s pots, they celebrate overlooked female potters felt right. The story goes that Noha was enthralled by images of two-legged vessels that circulated on the internet, with no clear artist name attached. To later discover that these works were by Kouame Kakahá, a contemporary female potter from Tanou Sakassou (Ivory Coast). She continued by embarking on a journey to connect with the Ivorian potter, finally meeting her at the Pottery Cooperative in Tanou Sakassou. I’ve spoken her work before.