Artist Feature: Oji Haynes
Oji Haynes (b.1999) is a Brooklyn-based fine art image maker and director. With his poetic outlook on life, Oji works toward making images that evoke emotions of pridefulness. Pulling inspirations from music, art, and history of the Black aesthetics in America, his work aims to put the Black figure at the forefront of his frame giving his lens, viewer, and the world a sense of rich artistic intimacy.
The series, “Don’t Touch My Crown” follows the notion of Black creative expression within the gaze of white America.
The title of this project is based solely on the experience Black women face within white society each and every day.
Often times, white people don’t seem to comprehend boundaries when it comes to the Black body and far too many times will feel the need to violate personal space because they are fascinated by the body's hair.
Black women should not feel judged nor scrutinized on the self-expression of their hair. Their hair should not be the center of amusement. It is their crown and is a part of their body therefore should not be touched.
Don't Touch My Crown, Oji Haynes
Q: Can you share something you learned from making this photo series?
OH: While making the pieces for this series, I wanted to focus on a genuine and natural outlook on the subjects themselves, and not just the style of their hair. Women are more than a specific feature or characteristic that they are oftentimes viewed as (Especially Black women). More often than not, Black women are first judged based on the style of their hair when in reality, there is so much more beauty that lies within them, than just their hairstyle. With the making of this series, I learned that the subjects in each photo are beautiful in and out. That is exactly what I want the viewer to feel while looking at the images.
Don't Touch My Crown, Oji Haynes
Q:What does being a feminist mean to you?
OH: I consider myself a natural feminist. It's how I was raised. I was taught to never disrespect, lay hands-on, or view women as less than. So with my natural eye of attraction in subjects being toward women in my work, one of my goals is to uplift and make my subject stand out as the main character. Having a little bit of a God/Goddess complex! Highlighting the beauty, love, sexuality, and overall being of all female subjects through my lens is what being a feminist means to me.
Don't Touch My Crown, Oji Haynes
Follow @ojihaynes and view more at ojihaynes.com
