Home. As You See Me 2017

Njideka Akunyili Crosby created 'Home. As You See Me' to explore the complexities of cultural identity and belonging. This vibrant piece invites us to consider the artist's personal history within the broader context of postcolonial Nigeria. Born in Nigeria and now living in the United States, Crosby layers personal photographs and imagery drawn from Nigerian popular culture to construct a domestic interior. The figure of Dora Akunyili, the artist's mother, appears throughout the image, on television screens and repeated as a motif on the wallpaper. The phrase "Service to the People", which was Akunyili’s slogan during her time as Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, underscores the deep connection to family history and national identity. As art historians, we can delve into archives of personal photographs and news media, while also tracing the institutional history of Nigerian governance and consumer culture in order to better understand this artwork. By acknowledging these complexities, we recognize how art shapes, and is shaped by, cultural change.