Art
Selah Marley
A Primordial Place
Words by Hannah Rose Prendergast
Selah Marley suspected her family was different from a young age. Although it took her until her freshman year of university to fully grasp the magnitude of being Lauryn Hill’s daughter and Bob Marley’s granddaughter, She knew at seven years old that she didn’t want to live in anyone’s shadow. Selah is now carving her path by experimenting with art’s many disciplines. She explains that “My focus is so sporadic, sometimes it’s music, sometimes it’s writing, sometimes it’s an installation, sometimes it’s design and fashion, sometimes it’s a film.”
When it comes to music, Selah describes her sound as “private, lowkey, and raw” coupled with being a perfectionist. Whether it’s her production skills that come from growing up with a musical background or her innate love of song, music holds a special place in her heart. Though she acknowledges her body of work as “organized chaos,” she’s equally committed to every project she takes on. “I’m still evolving. I’m still learning and understanding how to refine my sensibilities,” she admits.
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Selah’s latest venture comes in the form of a sensory art-installation and experience titled ‘A Primordial Place.’ Transforming BKLYN Studios in New York from a concrete jungle into a natural landscape straight out of your dream vacation and invites viewers to get away and discover their inner peace. By definition, primordial means “in the beginning” which Selah extends to “a world untouched by human destruction.” Similarly, the installation’s almost-title was ‘Anahata’ or heart chakra, which in Sanskrit translates to “unhurt, unstruck, and unbeaten.”
When developing the concept for ‘A Primordial Place,’ Selah had to dig deep: “On the one hand, I’m giving people a piece of myself, but on the other hand, the world that I’m in love with is a primitive one.” It’s a sort of journey back to one’s roots borne from the question: “What if we lived with the earth” instead of against it?
Closing her sentiments with “This is a space where the world can truly flourish and letting humans see that so we can understand, appreciate, and honor the beauty of the natural world and how grand it is,” Selah Marley sounds both familiar and distinct as she comes into her own.
A Primordial Place will be on display from May 3-4 at BKLYN Studios located at City Point in Downtown Brooklyn NY.
photos by Teneshia Carr, Styling Jess Mederos , Hair Isaac Davidson, Makeup Daniel Avilan, Styling Assistant Amirah Jones Floral Headress Ylimay Zavala Assistant Carly Zavala
