Nkem 2012

Njideka Akunyili Crosby made "Nkem", and what strikes me right away is how she builds up the image through layers, almost like she's constructing a memory piece by piece. Looking closely, you can see the material quality of this work; it's not just paint, but also collage and printmaking, maybe even solvent transfer. The figure's clothing isn't just fabric, it's a mosaic of images, a second skin made of history. It's like Crosby is asking, what does it mean to be seen, to be clothed in culture? Notice how the background is flat blocks of color, orange, turquoise, gray, and black. The collage extends onto the floor, grounding the figure and creating a sense of place. The white silhouette of the figure’s head gives the piece a ghostly, unfinished feel. It reminds me a bit of Kerry James Marshall, in that both artists use figuration to engage with questions of identity. This is about more than just what we see. It's about how we see, and who gets to be seen.