African Queen

I have categorized this work under psyche as it depicts what is termed in Africa a typical Mama Benz (from Mercedes Benz) at her Market stall selling African or Shwe Shwe fabrics.
These were powerful resilient women surrounded by an explosion of colour and natural cotton dyed cloth in a wide variety of patterns and designs. It represents the culture they come from through many generations with an eye for beauty and joy. It is what the women wear daily and makes their culture so vibrant and artistic. The fake, cheap and artificially more recently produced Chinese imports have sadly changed this reality (as so much of Western ideas and business for profit have done). It is still present in a diminished form or as a much more sophisticated and expensive business model. Those “Queens” managed their trade in old Mercedes Benzes to move their cloths to and from the markets, hence the name. They are true to their cultural heritage and bring it to life!