Khadija Cecile Niang
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It’s Not Just Hair
A3
Watercolour and fineliner on paper
May 2020
It’s Not Just Hair began as a way to reflect on my personal relationship with my hair, as the work developed, it became a celebration of the bond between black women through our shared experience.In the initial stages of the work, I reflected on how my hair has changed over the years, from being relaxed (chemically straightened), to natural hair, to braids, and the influence that moving between Europe and Africa had on my relationship with my hair.
Reading Emma Dabiri’s Don’t Touch My Hair brought forward the shared experience I have with other black women through hair. In my watercolour portraits, I aimed to illustrate the versatility of black hairstyling, such as weaves, wigs, braids etc. By having portraits of the same people with different hairstyles, I showcase that there’s more to black women’s identity than natural hair. These portraits are also an appreciation for the people in my life that create my community through our shared experiences in our black identity and relationship with hair.
Our Hair, the sound piece in the installation, vocalizes the sense of community with the five women whose portraits were painted.
Reading Emma Dabiri’s Don’t Touch My Hair brought forward the shared experience I have with other black women through hair. In my watercolour portraits, I aimed to illustrate the versatility of black hairstyling, such as weaves, wigs, braids etc. By having portraits of the same people with different hairstyles, I showcase that there’s more to black women’s identity than natural hair. These portraits are also an appreciation for the people in my life that create my community through our shared experiences in our black identity and relationship with hair.
Our Hair, the sound piece in the installation, vocalizes the sense of community with the five women whose portraits were painted.