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Women behind the lens: ‘I grew up hating my natural hair. But I transformed that pain into something empowering’
Ivorian artist Laetitia Ky creates sculptural hairstyles, usually with her own hair, but in a rare departure she involves her younger sibling to illustrate their bond
TL;DR
- Laetitia Ky is an Ivorian artist known for creating sculptural hairstyles from her natural hair.
- She uses extensions, thread, and wire to shape her hair into artistic expressions.
- A rare departure from her usual solo work, she involved her younger sister, Florencia, in a recent project to illustrate their bond.
- Ky's art addresses themes of feminism, identity, and women's experiences, aiming to empower those who share her background.
- Growing up in Côte d'Ivoire, she experienced negative self-perception due to colonial beauty standards favoring straight hair.
- She transformed her past pain about her natural hair into a source of empowerment and celebration of her identity.
- Styling her sister's hair symbolizes the deep trust between them, especially in Côte d'Ivoire where hair can be spiritually significant.
- The project is part of her book 'Love and Justice' and celebrates sisterhood and meaningful female relationships.
- Ky values being a big sister and finds joy in inspiring her younger sibling.