ASHLEY REID
‘An Ethnic Chapter’
The themes within Ashley Reid’s work illustrate semi-autobiographical perspectives, psychological elements, philosophical musings, and opening up a dialogue on the topic of cultural identity. For her latest project, she aims to portray a narrative of the ‘dark-skinned Black Woman’ through the use of portraiture. From a lost history and identity to embracing her ethnic beauty, the Black Woman has now found her voice and a sense of purpose in today’s world.The underlying aspect of the work compares the dark skinned Black Woman to that of a silent film actress. The absence of a voice encourages the viewer to ‘hear’ her story through her eyes and body language. No longer is her dark brown skin a hindrance, no longer is her natural coily hair seen as a curse. The inner flame which burns from deep within exudes a sense of self-assurance and belief that her principles in life are valued.Her personal choice to use coloured pencils, allows for greater precision when rendering the drawings. Ashley is influenced by black and white photography, realism art, and cinematography.
