This is Artwork tells a profound story of resilience and triumph.
The centerpiece, a depiction of a black man, with grey-speckled dreadlocks and beard which reflect the passage of time and wisdom hard-won through generations.
His mellow gaze captured through the lens of round glasses, holds memories of centuries sharpened by experience and his vintage regal attire representing timeless dignity and pride of black people.
Encased in a green oval frame adorned with cowries a symbol of fertility, African heritage and wealth.
Each corner housing a coin, which tell odysseys of the black identity.
The first coin features two hands clasped in friendship representing unity, allyship and the bonds that have been forged through struggle.
The second and third coins bear solemn imagery of enslaved African man and woman, their chains a reminder of a brutal history that must not be forgotten.
And the fourth coin shows the New York
University's Hall of Fame Slave Cabin, telling the story of a people who rose from the ashes of oppression to build new legacies.
This portrait is not merely a celebration of a man, but a chronicle of an entire people's journey.
Honouring their history and celebrating their strength and resilience that has fueled generations and has upheld a future of hope, pride and continued progress.
Charcoal and Acrylic on paper
