The Process | This series was created from a carved linoleum block and printed by hand with water-based ink on paper. The Bristol paper was soaked in water with the excess blotted off. Water-based ink was rolled onto the print plate, the blotted Bristol was placed on the inked plate, and rubbed with a baren and a roller.
Each pulled print has unique imperfections that add to the overall design.
The Why | Adinkra symbols were reserved for kings and have been attributed to the Akan and Asante people groups of present-day Ghana, West Africa. There are over 200 symbols representing concepts or aphorisms. And, hair styles in African societies were a form of cultural expression. For the Zulu Kingdom and other Bantu peoples, Bantu knots held important symbolic meaning. It was used in coming-of-age rituals and ceremonies, and the number and pattern of knots could indicate a person’s marital status, age group, or milestone events.
The inspiration for this work was my love of locs on males, their agility and strength when they dance, and the Adinkra symbol Fihankra. The Fihankra is a symbol that represents security, safety, solidarity, and communality.
