Najja Moon: Your Mommas Voice in the Back of Your Head

Najja Moon‘s “Your Mommas Voice in the Back of Your Head” debuted to the public at The Bass in March, and is on view through January 2022. The work is the result of Moon’s selection as the inaugural winner of its New Monuments commission—an open call for Miami-based artists. The outdoor piece consists of multidirectional speakers encased in gradient dichroic glass. Emitting from those speakers are words from Moon’s own mother, friends, family, and others, recorded in English, Spanish, and Creole. “Your mother is a monument. A constant reminder. A well of advice. An angel on your shoulder with a lot of attitude,” said Moon. “For this piece I want to recreate that sound bath that is your mommas voice in the back of your head. That voice is empowering, challenging and even confusing until ‘you’ll understand when you have children.’ Voices bouncing from different directions, just like the light, will hone in on the tough love, as well as the blind faith we receive, digest and give.”