FLOATING HEADS
FLOATING HEADS:
ARTIST’S NOT GANGSTER’S
I come from a Nigerian background. West of Africa and my mother is a hairdresser where her customers are from all over Africa. But her most common clients are Nigerian and Ghanaian and constantly exchanging stories to one another whilst wearing our traditional clothing. So I asked about symbols that I saw called Adinkra and found out that every symbol has a meaning and was very enlightened. So I want to do something with my head associated with Adinkra symbols and make patterns out of it. Plus in West African culture and Africa in general God and family is very important. So I wanted to include this in to my work using my own head to state the fact that I’m Nigerian. But we share the same beliefs.
This piece has a double meaning:
The three heads of me represents the HOLY trinity of AHAYAH (the father), YASHAYA (the son) and THE RUACH (THE HOLY SPIRIT) and me being Nigerian. Together it forms a heart that represents love.
I’m clothed with the patterned Adinkra symbols of unity (left floating head) called NKONSONKONSON. Courage, (Center floating head) called AKOFENA. Strength, (right floating head) called DWENNIMMEN. And the background has the symbol of faith called NYAME NTI. To represent that faith in AHAYAH (GOD) is the foundation of the house built on a rock.
The first meaning is this faith and trust in God comes Love, then unity, then strength and then courage to do all things forming nation.
This does not mean in no way, shape or form I am stating that I am God or being vain. I’m just using my head as a symbol to meet my brief that I was given.
The second meaning with the text ARTIST’S NOT GANGSTER’S.
Came about when my peers and me were walking down the high street pavement and he mentioned “even though we love to do art and design. People who don’t look like us, still look at us as if were thugs or gangsters, yes we are dark skinned but where not criminals, we are just artist’s not gangsters”. And that’s what I wanted to portray; in both meanings by the use of one imagery.
And the screen print version just maximizes on unity using the Adinkra symbol ‘NKONSONKONSON’ in white meaning to do things peacefully within blacks as a people and justly (righteousness), when we have been done wrong. With the phase ‘we will rise again’ meaning to repair our communities that has be destroyed.
I chose the typeface ‘ORIAL’ meaning to Beautifying an ugly situation and the red represents blood will be shed and a lot of sacrifices has to be made that comes with change and make a clear difference in the betterment of our people then humanity. The floating head at an angle positioned by the right looking downward also at an angle. Represent seriousness and in deep thought. Including And the cap and covering of face symbolises protection from enemies within and out the black community.
Black background represents black people even though we come in different shades.
