Contemporary body adornment influenced by Elizabethan, Victorian and Tribal African design

Abstract

Body adornment is linked to a person's identity, a view of self, and how a person is viewed by others. Elizabethan and Victorian women's clothing addresses the issue of identity. Many of the ritual objects worn by some of the peoples of Africa are also strongly linked to the idea of self-identification. My artwork has been influenced by the large-scale and dramatic presence of Elizabethan and Victorian women's attire, and by the beautiful objects of ornamentation created and worn by the peoples of Africa. Specifically, my work has been affected by the size and the visual dominance of tribal African and European adornment. The purpose of my large pieces is not to dominate, but rather to be a symbol of power and femininity of the wearer, thus enhancing their feeling of self-identity.