Bantu 2017

Curator: Monica Ikegwu’s striking portrait, "Bantu," painted in 2017 with oils, really captured me. What are your first thoughts looking at this piece? Editor: Well, it's immediately arresting, isn’t it? The monochrome palette is so compelling, and the subject’s downcast gaze gives off a sense of introspection, or perhaps… weariness? There’s almost a melancholic stillness about it. Curator: Weariness… that's a great read! The simplicity of the color scheme, purple on purple, allows for so much focus on her face. It feels quite intimate. I see a sense of serene dignity, even quiet power. What does it evoke for you on a deeper level, knowing that her hairstyle inspires the title? Editor: The term “Bantu knots” references a vast and diverse group of people. Situating the work within that context is key. Colonization often involves suppressing or appropriating cultural practices, and the styling of Black hair is certainly no exception. There is something subversive in this celebration of Black culture in direct opposition to Europeanized beauty standards. The hyperrealistic execution really brings that into focus. Curator: That tension, that defiance you highlight is potent. It makes you consider representation, and visibility, whose stories get told, and who gets to tell them. How much intention does she put in the gaze that the woman in the painting offers, to accept herself? The quiet beauty of it is loud! Editor: Absolutely, and that specific hairstyle – Bantu knots – holds cultural significance that goes beyond just aesthetics. We must discuss the ongoing debate regarding cultural appropriation, the hyper-sexualization of Black women's hairstyles, and even workplace discrimination in response to them. This painting creates an opportunity to reflect upon so many issues, making it politically engaged in its quietude. Curator: I love how we can linger and ruminate on how her silence can make room for a lot to be considered. And to then just reflect on this striking use of color as if the subject of the work seems bathed in both royalty and shadows, all the same, right? The impact resonates beyond the visual. Editor: Precisely! It is not just a portrait, but a powerful declaration. Thanks for walking me through it, that added many nuances that I needed. Curator: Anytime!