ARTIST STATEMENT
Gorée Island is a place where the air still carries the weight of history. As an artist, walking through the Maison des Esclaves—especially while standing before the Door of No Return—means confronting unimaginable pain, the final point of departure for millions. My photography highlights the transformative power of the Senegalese people, who have reclaimed this space not as a graveyard, but as a living monument to resilience. I am deeply moved by the contrast between the haunting, narrow, salt-worn Door of No Return and the vibrant, pastel-colored homes of the islanders just steps away. My photographs capture small moments of their humanity as an act of resistance and a way to honor ancestors by living fully in the present.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
DiDi Grimm is a Chicago-based visual artist exploring themes of memory, history, and what remains through drawing, photography, painting, and installation, engaging both built and natural environments.
© DiDi Grimm