Wereldmuseum Rotterdam presents: Hair Power

In Hair Power, human hair is covered from many angles. Through the lens of identity and beauty, for instance. Who decides what beautiful hair is? Where do these beauty ideals come from? Or from the sense of intimacy evoked by a piece of mourning jewellery or while sitting in the hairdresser’s chair. And let’s not forget hair as a commodity. Since hair is strong and won’t decay for centuries, we incorporate it into objects, keepsakes, and designs. And finally: empowerment. We celebrate the positive impact that hair can have on people and entire societies! 

Extraordinary objects from the collection of the Wereldmuseum are combined with contemporary works by leading artists and designers. For instance, a Papua New Guinean headdress of human hair, with beads and green beetle shields, is exhibited alongside the exuberant work of celebrity wigmaker Tomihiro Kono. And a unique hat from Alaska, waterproof because of the threaded hair yarn, is shown next to a woven hair tapestry by Antonin Mongin.

Several photographers pay intimate tributes to people and their hair. New York-based Yelaine Rodriguez comments in her series on the complicated relationship between the colonized and the colonizer, whilst celebrating the Afro Dominican spirituality. Sarojini Lewis from Rotterdam explores how her identity is perceived by the outside world – depending on her chosen hairstyle. And how she manages to free herself from these perceptions. 

Artist Clémence Hilaire creates the final piece of the exhibition exclusively for the Wereldmuseum: an impressive hair installation which reflects upon the exhibition as a whole. 

Hair Power, 9 July 2022 to 8 May 2023 - Wereldmuseum Rotterdam 
Spatial design: Maison the Faux & Serana Angelista  

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If you have any questions, please contact: Rachel Voorbij, press officer with NMVW and Wereldmuseum, at pers@wereldculturen.nl or 06 30 25 41 43