About The Book
In Fourteen Leaves and a Cup of Water, Michelle Piergoelam (NL) explores the botanical knowledge of enslaved communities in Suriname. This knowledge formed an important source of strength and resistance. Enslaved people recognised plants in the Surinamese flora that were related to species from Africa and understood which leaves had medicinal properties and which plants were edible or poisonous. They also knew how these plants could be used to survive their situation – even to poison their oppressors. This deep-rooted expertise enabled them to endure harsh conditions, escape, survive, and establish free communities in the dense rainforests of Suriname. Publisher’s Info
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About The Artist
Michelle Piergoelam is a visual artist and photographer who creates visual narratives around overlooked stories, cultural mythologies and collective memory. Based on in-depth research into oral traditions, rituals, secret languages, botanical knowledge and material culture, she develops a poetic visual language in which hidden narratives become visible. Her work focuses in particular on Surinamese heritage and the legacy of transatlantic slavery.
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Specifics
Michelle Piergoelam: Fourteen Leaves and a Cup of Water (The Eriskay Connection, 2026) | 315 × 210 mm | 92 pages | English + Dutch | Hardcover. Link.
Within this broader practice, Fourteen Leaves and a Cup of Water forms the third chapter of Piergoelam’s ongoing project The Untangled Tales (2020 – present), in which she explores sources of hope and strength among enslaved people in Suriname.
Fourteen Leaves and a Cup of Water is co-published with Naturalis Biodiversity Center.
