We are delighted to be shortlisted in the Best Artwork Project category:
This powerful GCSE project explores the deep connections between the Transatlantic Slave Trade and cultural resilience, inspired by personal history. Using braids, hair and traditional fabrics, Tamara (Form V) highlights how enslaved people preserved their identities and resisted oppression.
Braids played a central role, symbolising both loss and strength. Enslaved women were forced to have their hair shaved, erasing their cultural roots. But within the confines of plantations, hair became a secret tool for communication. Enslaved individuals braided escape routes and safe houses into their hair, transforming it into a powerful language of survival.
The project features a collection of garments made from hair and tribal fabric, each piece a tribute to cultural endurance. Through these creative mediums, Tamara captures both the trauma of slavery and the resilience of those who fought to preserve their heritage. This exceptional work invites reflection on the lasting impact of the slave trade and the unbreakable strength of cultural identity, showcasing remarkable skill and insight, especially for a GCSE student. We look forward to hearing the results on 6th May.
