CAMO 2.0 4415
“Beauty and greatness do not belong to the gods alone.”
African Proverb
Camo 4415 playfully shows a rainbow of dotted delight along the fringe of the model's hair. Beads are a big part of adornment in Africa, whether for children or adults, and there is a rich history of wearing beads for both beauty and to symbolize messages of status, age group and so forth to the larger community in one glance- without speaking a word.
In a less nuanced, everyday context, plastic neon beads were added into the lengths of braided hair by the Artist's mother, as she adorned her in her childhood. With beads in her hair, any little Nairobi girl's coiffure became extra special, extra good looking and Camo 4415 celebrates this with the vibrant nonchalance and strings of hanging delight on the model's face.
Beads are a big part of adornment in Africa, whether for children or adults, and there is a rich history of wearing beads for both beauty and to symbolize messages of status, age group and so forth to the larger community in one glance- without speaking a word. In modern times, adult women wear beads in their dreadlocks, cornrows and braids to dress up, using cowrie shells, large etched wooden beads, delicate cutout metallic beads and everything in between. Beads have surged back into fashion in recent years, as the younger Africans rediscover them from their traditional roots, so that within the trendy circles of the cities, many women and men are incorporating them into their hair styles and fashionable looks.
Photography, 2018
Jet Ink Print of FineArt RAG+ Matt 310g mounted on aluminium dibond in black pre-made float frame
