The Ties of Love was created for a 3 woman exhibition titled Ties That Bind. The pieces in the series reflect Lisa’s interpretation of the theme by focusing on relationships that can both “bind” us and set us free, including our relationship with our mother, our relationship with our partner, our relationship with nature, our relationship with the world and our relationship with our God. African adinkra symbols are used to add an additional layer of meaning.
Our personal relationships have the power to transform and enrich our lives. They can be challenging, joyful, aggravating, and empowering. The bonds of these relationships often last beyond the death of a loved one – they are imprinted on our soul. Each vertical panel in this piece represents one aspect in our personal relationships. The four adinkra symbols on the left panel represent the ways in which relationships impact our lives - they help us withstand hardship, give us a sense of connection and security, lead to personal growth and create a sense of family unity. The symbols in the middle represent the nature of the bond – the interdependence inherent in such a relationship, the lifelong impact of the relationship and the strong sense of devotion. The symbols on the right represent what we must do to maintain and develop relationships – we must change and adapt, we must act with integrity, we must cooperate and we must work to resolve any conflicts.