Language of the Forgotten: Inherited Forms

Language of the Forgotten: Inherited Forms explores the relationship between language, identity, and cultural memory, examining how the traditions, symbols, and forms of expression we inherit continue to shape who we become. Through mixed-media portraiture, sculptural relief, African-inspired patterns, and Adinkra symbolism, I consider language as something greater than spoken words. It lives within our gestures, textiles, stories, symbols, and creative expressions, connecting us to generations whose voices may no longer be heard but whose influence remains. Central to this body of work are black silhouettes whose faces are individually sculpted using clay foam.

The silhouettes establish a shared foundation, while the sculpted features give each figure its own identity and presence. This process mirrors the evolution of language itself. Just as clay is molded and transformed by the hands that shape it, language is continuously reshaped by the generations that inherit it. Each generation leaves an imprint, introducing new expressions and meanings while carrying traces of what came before. The layered patterns surrounding these figures reflect the complexity of cultural inheritance: fragments of memory, tradition, and lived experience that come together to form an evolving identity. At the heart of this series is a question of cultural responsibility.

Preservation alone is not enough. We cannot protect a language tomorrow if we are not actively creating within it today. In an increasingly digital world, where cultural imagery can be reproduced and separated from its origins, maintaining that connection between expression and meaning becomes even more urgent. Language of the Forgotten: Inherited Forms is both a reflection on what risks being lost and an invitation to recognize what continues to live within us. It asks how we honor what we have inherited while allowing it to evolve, and how the act of creating can become a language of remembrance, renewal, and continuity.

Artwork Inquiries

For pricing, availability, or acquisition inquiries, please contact the artist directly.

Title-Sankofa Nkyinkyim (Akan) — "Returning Through Transformation

Medium-Acrylic Paint, markers, Ankara fabric and oil pastels and Clay foam on Canvas

Size-18×30in

Year-2024

Artwork Inquiries

For pricing, availability, or acquisition inquiries, please contact the artist directly.