J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere
Suku Sinero Kiko

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Artist J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere(Nigerian, 1930–2014)Nigerian, 1930–2014

Printer Philippe Salaün(French, 1943–2020)French, 1943–2020

CultureNigerian

Titles

Suku Sinero Kiko
from the series Hairstyles

Date1974, printed 2013

MediumGelatin silver print

DimensionsSheet: 23 5/8 × 19 11/16 in. (60 × 50 cm)
Frame: 26 × 25 9/16 in. (66 × 65 cm)

Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment Fund

Object number2019.413.2

Not on view

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Department

Photography

Object Type

PHOTOGRAPHS

Description“Hairstyles are an art form,” photographer J. D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere said. They are also an important signifier. Prior to Nigerian inde- pendence in 1960, wigs and straightening had replaced much of the indigenous hair culture. Following independence, traditional styles reemerged alongside modern designs, attracting the eye of the artist. The more than 1,000 hairstyles captured by Ojeikere in 30 years represent a declaration of self and of heritage and reference both past and present. “All these hairstyles are ephemeral,” he said. “I want my photographs to be noteworthy traces of them. I always wanted to record moments of beauty, moments of knowledge.”
Provenance[Yossi Milo Gallery, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 2019.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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