Can I Touch Your Hair?
Format
Senior Art and Design Exhibition
Faculty Mentor Name
Marie Lee
Faculty Mentor Department
Art and Graphic Design
Additional Faculty Mentor Name
Brett DeBoer
Additional Faculty Mentor Department
Art and Graphic Design
Abstract/Artist Statement
"Can I Touch Your Hair?" is a photographic series consisting of six 18 x 24-inch portraits of various subjects with ethnic hair. People treat their hair in different ways and there are various types and textures of hair that differentiate us and play a big part in how not only we view ourselves, but how others view us as well. Being African American, I have textured curly hair. I love to find new and interesting ways to style and treat my hair because it is connected to my identity and personality. There have been many misconceptions and stereotypes created about hair, especially ethnic hair. For a long time, it was seen as superior to have straight hair. The straighter your hair, the more you fit in with society. It has been seen in history where people with “different” hair were looked down on and cast aside as inferior individuals. Yet as the years have progressed, Ethnic hair has started to become a positive characteristic within our society. When looking at my work I want the audience to see how ethnic hair can and should be seen on the same level of straight hair. An individual’s hair helps define who they are. Hair can come in all forms, shapes, and sizes. The photographs are shot on white backgrounds to highlight contrast. This distinguishes the individual’s hair and brings it to the foreground to illustrate how ethnic hair too, can be looked at as “acceptable”
and beautiful.
Location
Reynolds Gallery
Start Date
18-4-2018 6:00 PM
End Date
11-5-2018 5:00 PM
Can I Touch Your Hair?
Reynolds Gallery
"Can I Touch Your Hair?" is a photographic series consisting of six 18 x 24-inch portraits of various subjects with ethnic hair. People treat their hair in different ways and there are various types and textures of hair that differentiate us and play a big part in how not only we view ourselves, but how others view us as well. Being African American, I have textured curly hair. I love to find new and interesting ways to style and treat my hair because it is connected to my identity and personality. There have been many misconceptions and stereotypes created about hair, especially ethnic hair. For a long time, it was seen as superior to have straight hair. The straighter your hair, the more you fit in with society. It has been seen in history where people with “different” hair were looked down on and cast aside as inferior individuals. Yet as the years have progressed, Ethnic hair has started to become a positive characteristic within our society. When looking at my work I want the audience to see how ethnic hair can and should be seen on the same level of straight hair. An individual’s hair helps define who they are. Hair can come in all forms, shapes, and sizes. The photographs are shot on white backgrounds to highlight contrast. This distinguishes the individual’s hair and brings it to the foreground to illustrate how ethnic hair too, can be looked at as “acceptable”
and beautiful.