Tschabalala Self uses a syncretic approach, combining both painting and printmaking to investigate concepts surrounding the black body. Her work features mainly female bodies, which are constructed using a blend of sewn, printed, and painted materials, fusing together various artistic and craft traditions. Through her practice, Self seeks to expand critical inquiry into selfhood and human flourishing, exploring the formal and conceptual aspects of her art. The expressive and dynamic pieces, which span painting, print, collage and sculpture, center around the human figure. Using various techniques, Self playfully deconstructs and recreates the Black female body, often incorporating pieces of fabric, paper, or sections of an earlier work into her mixed-media pieces. This fragmented approach to figure and identity allows Self to blend fact with fiction and reality with imagination, exploring the social and political symbol of the Black female body, which examines the intersection of race, gender and sexuality, with each character expressing a distinct, powerful identity.
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