‘Afro Blues’

Oil + Acrylic on Canvas Board

20 x 24 Inches

Afro Blues -

'Afro Blues' addresses the complex relationship that black women have with their hair. Often shown in a negative light as something that women should be ashamed of I wanted to juxtapose that view by using black busts/mannequins, a black hair poster on the wall as well as using a mix of different ethnic hair styles to show the beauty in black hair. Black hair salon sets a cultural context as it also often used as a place of comfort and security where women not only go to make themselves look better in a physical sense but also feel better, as it is used by a lot of women as a place where they feel comfortable enough to vent, have debates and seek advice. I chose the title 'Afro Blues', the title from an old jazz standard which tells the story of a love between two ethnic souls ‘bathing in the richness of their love’ and thought it was perfect as it celebrates their culture and blackness.