The Women in Conversation, 2016
Watercolor wash on paper
8 3/8 x 5 1/8 in.
21.3 x 13 cm
For many women, simultaneous movements become second nature. Some of us are accustomed to carrying plantain on our head or toting a baby on our back while heading up the road or moving through town, and still, as we see our friend coming, we stop and speak. The Women in Conversation displays these kinds of encounters as daily comforts and pick-me-ups that help to manage multitasking. Frank Dwuye brings these interactions to life through strokes that hint at where his figures have come from and where they are going. These lines display how the swing of their arms and hips—which enable their heads to remain steady and forward facing—contributes livelihood to their environments. His attention to detail and signature motif of linework adapted from the Adinkra symbols of the Akan people add intricacy to each of his works.