Akwete × Catalogue is a mixed-media installation that manifests in varying forms. It focuses on the communal aspect of hair-making in Nigeria, in particular, the suburban regions. As an Igbo woman, Ngozi Schommers’ relationship with her hair was shaped in this environment. In spite of the violent and harmful influences of colonial culture on African/ Black hair, the local spaces for hair-making still allowed for coming together, positivity and deep nurturing. And though Euro-American beauty ideals continue to shape how African/Black people relate with their hair, (pre-)colonial African hair legacy remains visible and enduring. To document this enduring hair legacy and its environment, Akwete × Catalogue turns to retracing and reconnecting with local hair-making practices, emphasising its communal and collaborative nature. Thus, the hairstyles in the soft sculpture installations are made in collaboration with local female hairstylists and reference hairstyles from her family photo archives. In the current iteration presented in the exhibition “Selbst und Zweck” curated by Sjusanna Eremjan at HFBK Hamburg, Akwete × Catalogue IV is installed next to a free-standing panel sculpture titled Safe Space. Produced with metal sheets, the panel design was inspired by patterns found in the courtyards, verandas and window frames of colonial architecture in West Africa. The series title comes from the alter ego names of her mother and her friend, who were members of a social club that provided space for women to support each other and thrive. (Ngozi Schommers, 2022)
