The Essence Of Being

featured submission in our upcoming issue 010

By: Davia Gross (@daviamg.photography)

“This body of work is called “The Essence of Being.” This project of artist portraits reflects how I view the Black Woman experience. I wanted to focus on what affects us currently stems from traits passed down from previous generations. Some Things we’ve actually experienced in our lives. But some of the battles we fight mentally and spiritually are traumas we in this generation haven’t even experienced. Our Mothers, Grandmothers, Great Grandmothers, Great Great Grandmothers, and so on have had to be strong for their families. And raising Black Children isn’t easy in this. Let alone Black Girls.

Whether going through battles of slavery, abuse from family, money, or even relationships, they’ve had to keep going for their children. We’re overly sexualized, and secretly desired, and embarrassed, and unprotected in today’s society. How do we break generational curses? With this project, I wanted to convey this through color. The colors shown are often used to depict Royalty, Power, Strength, Love, Compassion, Hope, Sacrifice, Courage, Spirituality, and Wisdom.

I chose to use young Black Girls because we are the current generation, and most of us have been chosen to break those curses and chains that have held us back for so long.” - Davia Gross

Models:

Alexia Lewis (@oneanonlylexi)

Amour Kimbrough (@amourziaa__)

Angela McClaster (@angela.chilin_)

Arria Ray (@Rayarria)

Davia Gross (@daviamg.photography)

Jaliana S (@the.alt.pov)

Journi Taylor (@suavelyni)

Kiahyah Warren (@Kiahyah_)

Ky'Asia Sanders (@koolasia )

McKenzie Nelson (@its_.mckenzie_)

Taylor Brooks (@peaceful.livingg)