Open CallArts

Eau à Eau

A visual project inspired by the Haitian Vodou spirit LaSirenn, to explore water as a metaphor for identity, transformation and feminine strength.

Cyanotype print on stitched fabric showing a woman's face and shoulders half-submerged in blue water, scattered with small beads.

Eau à Eau is a visual exploration inspired by the Haitian Vodou spirit LaSirenn: a water spirit associated with identity, self-reflection, fluidity, and feminine strength. In Haitian mythology, LaSirenn is often portrayed as a siren who guides individuals through personal journeys of transformation and self-discovery.

In this project, I draw from these mythological roots to interpret water as a metaphor for the inner self—ever-shifting, reflective, and fluid. I use cyanotype, with its timeless Prussian blue tones, to evoke the presence of water both thematically and materially. As a process that relies largely on water for development, cyanotype becomes both the subject and the method, emphasising water’s role in life and creation.

I incorporate mixed media elements by sewing beads onto the fabric—each one reflecting the hues of water, sunlight or reflections. The tactile addition of beadwork brings a sense of movement and depth, echoing the nature of myth and water.

Like water, this project is fluid and evolving. Through it, I aim to create a piece of art that is both visually compelling and rooted in mythological narratives that continue to shape contemporary practice.

Project by Sophie Ackroyd


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