Afi Lane, a Houston-based artist, is currently showcasing her work at the 934 Gallery in Columbus, Ohio. The exhibition, which runs through June 27, features a series of charcoal portraits that reflect on memory, migration, and the emotional weight of survival within the Black American experience.

Exploring Concepts of Memory and Migration

Lane’s work is a response to the historical downplaying and erasure of Black American contributions. She draws inspiration from her own experiences with racism and her desire to correct the misinformation in history. The exhibition includes a series of portraits built around a question Lane posed to friends and family members: If you were forced to flee with only the clothes on your back, what is one thing you would take with you?

The portraits feature individuals holding a single object, including a bible, a birth certificate, and an unborn child. Lane’s use of charcoal and the incorporation of photographs of sediment from the Ohio River add depth and meaning to the pieces. The Ohio River, which existed as a line of demarcation between the slave states of the South and the so-called free North, serves as a powerful symbol in Lane’s work.

Lane’s journey as an artist began when she was a child. She would often draw on the walls, and her parents encouraged her creativity by providing her with blank paper. However, it wasn’t until she began sketching portraits of people on Facebook that she discovered her passion for art. Lane’s work has since evolved, and she now uses her platform to explore themes of identity, history, and social justice.

Original reporting: Matter News (Columbus) — read the source article.