Created by
Dr. Word, Tanekeya
Printed by
Dr. Word, Tanekeya
Manufactured by
HangZ, American
Subject of
Unidentified Woman or Women
Date
2020
Medium
ink, pigment, pastel and laminated plastic on paper with acrylic, metal and Fome-Cor (TM)
Dimensions
H x W x D: 4 1/2 × 4 1/2 × 1 1/2 in. (11.5 × 11.5 × 3.8 cm)
Description
A mixed media work titled, “Supernova Study No. 02,” by Tanekeya Word. The relief print depicts the elaborate, Fulani-inspired, futuristic, protective hairstyle of a woman with her back to the viewer.
Pictured from the neck up, the back of the woman's head features a large cutout that overlays an image of a gray, blue, and brown planet with a sliver of starry space at the top. Her hair is parted down the center of her scalp and woven into the center of the part is a double, five-pointed, star-shaped pattern. At the center of the star is a star-shaped cutout featuring a white, flashing star at the center. The woman’s looseends have been gathered up and styled into two large, round, spoked wheel shapes on either side of her head. The top and bottom spokes on each wheel feature two five-pointed stars twisted into the center of each spoke. Each of the stars have cutouts at the center and are overlaid over color images and text. The top left star overlays a gray field with black text that reads [HAIR] framed on the top and bottom with a solid and a dashed white line. The bottom left and top right stars overlay images of starry space inside star-shaped, silver, holographic decal frames. The bottom right star overlays an image of starry space. The woman is wearing a blue garment with a low collar, blended with white. The marble background is fluorescent yellow-green, tan, light blue, blue, and gray. The print is mounted on white foamboard. It is housed in a light blue, square, acrylic box frame and secured on each side with a blue screw. The series title, number, and artist's signature is handwritten on the verso in black ink in the bottom right corner that reads [Supernova: no. 02 © 2020 / Tanekeya S. Word].
Place made
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, North and Central America
Portfolio/Series
Supernova Study
Classification
Visual Arts
Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design
Movement
Afrofuturism
Type
prints
Topic
African diaspora
Art
Black geographies
Design
Hair
Women
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2022.24.1
Restrictions & Rights
© Tanekeya Word
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd53a733dd1-1b04-465d-8f3a-e11211f2fd57

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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