(Eng: Me, Hair - Hair, Me)

In this piece, I explore the shifting boundaries of identity, beauty, and self-expression through the intimate act of hairstyling. Moving through a series of the artist’s elaborate African hairstyles set against abstract landscapes, the piece confronts the viewer with the complex interplay between pride and scrutiny, personal choice and societal expectation. It reflects on how identity markers such as hair are simultaneously a source of empowerment and a battleground for cultural and gendered perceptions. Through this, the work questions the arbitrary standards imposed on African women’s bodies, asking: Who defines authenticity? Who polices femininity? And why does the act of self-expression invite judgment?