Havily Nwakuche: What the Water Took Away Will Never Return

Exhibition Abstract

What the Water Took Away Will Never Return is a durational performance piece and installation centered around the Nigerian dish akara and custard. In the piece, Havily Nwakuche peels black-eyed peas to prepare the dish. Through this process, she reflects on the Nigerian tradition that, in the event of a divorce, the mother leaves the home while the children remain with the father. This performance meditates on that time in her life without her mother while pushing back against the erasure of women's roles in family dynamics and highlighting the importance of women and domestic labor within the family structure. Throughout the show, the space transitions between the woman being present and her departure, capturing the lasting impact of her absence.

If you would like to join the performance, the woman will be present Monday–Wednesday from 5–7 p.m., Thursday from 7–9 p.m., Friday from 2–5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Exhibitor Biography

Havily Nwakuche (B.F.A. '25) is an Igbo-American artist from North Carolina whose work explores themes of gender, cultural traditions, and familial touchstones, often centering on domestic spaces, food, fabrics, and everyday objects. Through textiles, photography, and performance, she transforms familiar domestic imagery to challenge the erasure of women and traditional roles. By examining fragmented memories and reinterpreting family photographs, she reveals complex family dynamics, blending nostalgia with surrealism and distortion. Rather than fantasizing, Nwakuche uses these elements to uncover the twisted truths we've come to accept as normal, illuminating the often-hidden realities of families and domestic experiences.