COLLORFULL PEOPLE STATEMENT

The African continent is perhaps one of the places in the world where humans use their bodies most as a canvas for cultural expression: Paintings, hairstyles, scars, ornaments, and clothing are some classic examples. Artists of the new generation, such as the Kenyan photographer Thandiwe Muriu, who serves as a reference for this essay, have been exploring aspects of this culture, redefining them.

Following Thandiwe's style, who uses patterns from African fabrics for a mimetic effect, I have conducted research on ancestral hairstyles, blending them with a touch of afrofuturism and incorporating some objects related to African craftsmanship.

This exercise, which I conducted in my hometown, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, in 2022, highlights the connections between our cultures while celebrating contemporary African art. The title of this series is also a redefinition, as the term ”colloured people"   has been slightly modified to evoke the richness and diversity of African culture.

Robério Braga.