Pardon My French curated by Mariel Brown • Wondereur

an investigative photo documentary

Exclusive 18-page photo essay from our investigative journalist team in collaboration with award-winning photojournalist Mark King. Location: St. Philip, Barbados Copyright Wondereur 2023.

MEET with artist Sheena Rose curated by award-winning filmmaker Mariel Brown.

“A CAR SLAMMED INTO US. THE AMBULANCE CAME AND THEN ANOTHER ONE.”

“I WAS LIKE, I HAVE TO DRAW THIS.”

“I couldn’t get the image out of my head. I got anxious because I wanted to show what it was like. It was almost demanding. The artwork was so powerful and funny that I had to tear up the piece.”

“I remember when I first started making art, people would say my work was too honest. And I was so at a loss. Honest? What do they mean? I just do what I do, so I don't know why it’s so harsh to be honest.”

“I LIKE TO BE STRAIGHT-FORWARD.”

“Last year, I was looking at how people In Barbados gossip about girls who wear too much makeup, saying stuff like: Is she a clown or what?”

“I asked my niece to do my face and I drew myself, but before I started painting the piece, my boyfriend called and dumped me.”

“I was crying and crying, but continued to paint. I painted the background, but couldn’t touch the face.”

“So I put the piece the next day at the dump. Somebody saw it, and I was surprised to see my painting on the cover of an art book.”

“SEEING MYSELF ON THAT COVER, I WAS LIKE, ‘IS THIS GIRL A CLOWN OR WHAT?’”

“A collector saw the work and bought it.”

“THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME THAT I FELT LIKE I COULD LET GO.”

“I realized there’s a Sheena and there’s a Sheena Rose. Sheena Rose is confident, doesn’t give a damn. But then there’s a side of me that’s fragile.”

“It’s only now that I realize that Sheena and Sheena Rose is one person. I wasn’t being honest with myself.”

“I’m off to North Carolina. I have no clue what it’s like there and it’s ok.”

“I NEED THAT CULTURE SHOCK. I NEED TO BE SHAKEN.”