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 (material) and laminated plastic on paper (fiber product) 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. 17,” 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, her hair is parted down the center of her scalp to the nape and arranged into rows of braids or twists. Woven into the center of the hair part is a double, five-pointed, star-shaped pattern. At the center of the star is a star-shaped cutout featuring a black-and-white image of starry space heavily concentrated with stars. The woman’s loose ends 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 one vinyl decal and three color images. The top left star overlays an image of a reddish gold quasar. The bottom left star overlays an images of starry space inside a reddish nebula. The top right star overlays a bluish image of a flashing star and the bottom right star overlays a pink, holographic, vinyl decal. The woman is wearing a light blue garment with a low collar, shaded with a textured light purple. The marble background is fluorescent pink, fluorescent orange, light pink, blue, light blue and white. 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. 17 © 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
2022.24.4
Restrictions & Rights
© Tanekeya Word
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd581d9f9f0-b4d9-4263-827a-5eedb42eaacf

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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