Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Guylaine Conquet. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Guylaine, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The project was to transcribe my story into painting. I would like to go further and do research and start from the base, the different afro hairstyles in africa their codes spiritual meanings religious, societal …. trace the origins of the different hairstyles that we see today,

Guylaine, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I live and create art in Florida. I Was born in Guadeloupe French territory where I worked for many years as a radio and television host for the French National branch. To appear presentable and attractive, it was necessary to perpetuate the myth of European women hair styles which requires black women to have long, straight hair. My paintings tell her story but also that of all black women around the world, our struggles, embarrassments, sufferings to get our kinky hair accepted.
After years many years of using chemical products, I suffered severe hair damage.
In January 2015 I decided to appear on television with my natural kinky hair. It was a turning point, a defining and even traumatic moment in my professional life. That was the start of my journey of accepting my identity as an African descendant with naturally kinky hair.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Knowledge our natural hair is rooted in a painful history that black diasporas are still trying to overcome. The system which still inspires women and their daughters to consider smoothhair as the only acceptable canon of beauty is not a trivial subject.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

When young girls tell me that they will now be careful with toxic products for their hair, when women tell me that they recognize themselves in my story, it is also theirs. When white people buy my paintings the symbol is strong.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.just-afro.com
• Instagram: @justafro1
• Facebook: @Jusafroart

Image Credits
Gregory Duhamel