“Saw you Dancing on a Tightrope” forefronts elements of Sierra Leonean culture and the common experience of grief and how the passage of time affects memories when a loved one passes away. In Sierra Leonean culture, instead of throwing away clothes owned by someone who has died, it is passed down to family members. The dress in this installation is from Ceesay’s grandmother who died in 2021. The photograph in the installation is of Ceesay’s mom and sister on the beach where her grandmother was buried. By adding these two elements Ceesay attempts to also speak to how we keep those who have passed on alive. When parried with the poem this piece takes on a new meaning. Ceesay is sharing what it is like to grieve someone who you have very few memories of.
