Connections
As a tribute to my mother, this exhibition reflects the bond we share. When I was a kid, my mother would spend hours doing my hair while we talked, watched movies or played video games. I was always excited to choose from thousands of colored beads, bows, and other accessories to complete my look. Those moments remain some of my best memories with my mother. In homage to the experience, I made handmade wigs that showcase the time and effort required to create different hairstyles. I aimed to capture the intimacy of the styling process and the joy of spending time together. Through this exhibition, I want to highlight the creativity and individuality that shines through the time we take to care of each other. I want to convey that hairstyling is not just superficial act, but a deeper form of care, community, and bonding in cultural, familial, and personal terms. I invite visitors to explore forms of creativity and play, and to question the meaning behind our hair-styling rituals.
My mother always has been a symbol of strength and support in my life, and these sculptural pillars symbolize the strength and connection I have with her. I don’t often express my love and appreciation with words, so I decided to create a body of work to express our relationship and the times we share, in these terms. Attached to each flower is a snack, and each bundle is a gift. If you are so inclined, you may take one if you wish.
Inethia Allen ‘23
Advisor: Daren Kendall
All images copyright © 2023 Inethia Allen. All rights reserved.
Installation, Steel, sticks, flowers, snacks, synthetic hair, fabric, 2023
The Flowerpot, Steel, sticks, flowers, snacks, 20" x 10” x 12”, 2023
Pillar of Connection, Steel, sticks, flowers, snacks, synthetic hair, fabric, 49” x 12" x 18”, 2023
Salon Style, Steel, sticks, flowers, snacks, synthetic hair, fabric, 45.5” x 18” x 45”, 2023
Straight, Curly, and Braided Wigs , Installation, synthetic hair, wig caps, 2023
Pillar of Connection, Steel, sticks, flowers, snacks, synthetic hair, fabric, 37” x 13.5” x 12”