Anya Paintsil - Rhitta Gawr, 2022
Acrylic, synthetic hair, human hair, wool, alpaca and plastic combs on hessian
Eyes wide open and directly comforting the viewer, mouth agape, the figure cloaked in dark hair embellished with colorful plastic hair picks conveys shock, even horror. The pale pink background tames the frenzy and draws us back to her exaggerated Afrocentric nose and the brighter pink hair clips that pop out from the quintessential 1980s color palette.
Rhitta Gawr (2022) by Anya Paintsil references the Welsh giant who killed kings and wore their beards as a trophy before he was slayed by Arthur, who commanded his men to place stones over the giant's body and form a burial mound known as Gwyddfa Rhita.
Paintsil’s elaborate compositions marry textile and sculpture to create captivating portraits that evoke a painterly quality through the use of recurring facial features, human hair, and an array of hair accessories. She engages in practices such rug-hooking, embroidery and tapestry-making, some of which she learned from family members.