“Negrita” is a term of endearment in my home country of the Dominican Republic, used to refer to dark-skinned girls and women. As a black woman myself, I heard the term a lot growing up.
When I first started painting this piece, I only had a vague idea of where I wanted to go with it. As an artist, I try to let my art speak for itself. Even to me, the creator. I let it guide me during the artistic process. It always tells me what it wants to be, sometimes down to the title, if I listen.
Negrita.
Juxtaposed, of course, by the white paint that outlines her.
She hasn’t told me what that part means yet. But I suspect it’s a commentary on the well documented phenomenon of Dominicans’ belief that they're white, and not, in fact, Black. Even though we’re like top 3 blackest countries in Latin America.
I could be wrong though.
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Acrylic and silicone oil on stretched premium canvas
Long in size: 10” x 30” in dimensions, with a 3/4” thick solid wood frame
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