Artist Afra Eisma (1993) was inspired by Audre Lorde's poetic texts and created intimate worlds bursting with color and energy. Her work consists of tufted carpets, ceramics, papier maché and textiles that lead to radiant tactile installations in which connection and generosity are central. From 27 March 2021 the Fries Museum will present her first museum solo exhibition.

Your silence will not protect you,' is the title of a book by Caribbean-American author Audre Lorde who described herself as black, lesbian, mother, fighter, poet and brought this into her work. Lorde wrote her work for black (queer) women, anyone else is a guest in her literature, as is Eisma. Lorde’s work is directed towards emotions, an inner power source and the power of language. She knows like no other how to realise these powers within her texts. Eisma drew strength and hope from Lorde’s books surrounding a suffered trauma and put this strength into her artworks. Your silence will not protect you, don't turn your emotions inward, but speak them out and use them to achieve something positive.

For this exhibition, Eisma transforms the rooms into immersive installations. For each room she highlights an emotion that she connects with the stomach, the heart and the mouth. Guides, sometimes in the form of animals, lead the visitor from one space to another. The installations are a meeting of life and art, she literally weaves life experiences into her work. With the exhibition she reflects on her own vulnerability.