Found
By: Doris Abdolian (11)
Digital Media, Illustrator 86.36 cm x 66.04 cm Inspired by Kaylan Michael’s Afrofuturism portraits, I used Adobe Illustrator to create a self-portrait resembling printmaking protest posters like Shepard Fairey’s. The sun symbolizes the cycle of life and my journey of self-discovery. The Pan-African flag in the background communicates my Black identity. The tawny eagle, the national animal of Ghana, sits behind my left shoulder, looking right like me. I intended to honor and recognize my Ghanaian ethnicity despite identifying as Black.
Hwe Mudua
Using metal inscribing tools in a flex shaft, I carved Adinkra symbols and hatch patterns inspired by the Akan people on an easily stained black ash wood bowl. The Hwe Mudua represents the judgment I received because of my Ghanaian ethnicity. The butterfly-shaped Hye Wonhye depicts my perseverance through intolerance. Mate Masie signifies the growth I experienced learning about others' perceptions of my Akan heritage. The Hwe Mudua repeats twice to show the persistent feeling of judgment. Dimensions: 6.826 cm x 13.97 cm x 14.1287 cm
Reassembling the Past
Collage on Chipboard 20.32 x 25.4 cm Using Photoshop, I collaged the people and landscapes in my mother’s digital photos to show the amalgamation of my time in Ghana. Atop of the geometric collage, a green, purple, black, and orange pattern signifies growth, femininity, strength, and royalty, as inspired by the Asante and Ewe Kente cloth. Glued onto a chipboard, the collage is cut into an interactive puzzle that allows others to reassemble my fragmented memories, preserved in images, that helped me reconnect with my native country.
