In the bustling heart of Lagos, Nigeria, the vibrant world of artist Jessica Soares comes to life. Born in 1990, Jessica is an artist, working primarily with paint. Merging drawing and painting techniques, her creations spring forth from profound personal experiences that compel her to scrutinize the intricate tapestry of social notions and complexities surrounding women's hair in today's society.
Within her work, elaborately detailed figures come to life in a symphony of colourful fabrics. These are not just artistic embellishments; they are important to her exploration of the very essence of legacy and familial bonds. Who We Are When The Glory Is Gone, is not merely an exhibition; it's a profound odyssey through the world of Jessica Soares. Her September debut solo exhibition consisting of a collection of paintings, bearing the weighty title, refers to a woman's hair as her crowning glory. These works peer into the cracks, the delicate dance between how we present ourselves to the world and our authentic realities - how we see ourselves. Jessica Soares' art is a reflection of the complex and multifaceted relationship that many young Nigerian women and girls have with hair and beauty standards. Her work serves as a mirror to the diverse perspectives and experiences that shape the lives of women in Nigeria.
Soares' art celebrates the natural beauty of women's hair, aligning with the growing natural hair movement in Nigeria, which challenges conventional beauty standards. Her work serves as a challenge to societal expectations regarding beauty, encouraging viewers to question and redefine their perspectives on beauty and identity. Soares' art resonates with the experiences of younger generations who are redefining beauty standards and embracing diversity and contemporary expressions of beauty with hair.
At the core of this visual narrative is an exploration of the role hair plays in contemporary femininity. It's a journey that delves into cultural identity, self-expression, societal expectations, and empowerment - all themes that come to play out in the artist's captivating paintings. Within this series, wigs and scarves become instruments of masking, figures clad in brightly coloured Victorian dresses in an extravagant display of hyper-femininity, and etchings of plants, caught between life and decay, weave their way into the compositions. The mirror-like frames in which the artist displays some of her pieces have a twofold function, challenging viewers to introspect while altering their perception of the visual elements.
In these paintings, one would find stories and personal experiences that go beyond just the artist's expression. They come together to make a strong statement about the pressure of societal beauty standards. Each one stands as a symbol of something that's both real and imaginary, a feeling that many of us have when we don't quite fit in.
While inspired by Soares' own experience with alopecia, her works transcend the personal and delve into broader themes of perception, the value of material aesthetics, and the challenging task of finding peace in the midst of change. Belonging is a fundamental human desire, yet arbitrary standards often hinder our ability to be seen for who we truly are. Soares' work is a call to action, urging us to recognize and appreciate our authentic selves and others without the burden of these arbitrary markers.
Who We Are When The Glory Is Gone is a journey through loss, a process of grieving, finding peace within oneself, and a quest to find community in these conversations about hair in a world that often fails to make space for those who don't fit in. Jessica Soares has undertaken this odyssey, and through her art, she invites us all to explore, reflect, and maybe even redefine our own path.