The artwork, titled “Counting,” was created by Lorna Simpson in 1991 and belongs to the Postcolonial art movement. The genre of this artwork is categorized as a photo.
“Counting” is a thought-provoking composition consisting of three black and white photographic panels stacked vertically. The top panel features a tightly framed image of a person’s collarbone and a portion of their chest, emphasizing an area often associated with identity and vulnerability. Adjacent to this panel is a list of time intervals, perhaps suggestive of a schedule.
The central panel depicts a solitary shack or small building, juxtaposed with the text “330 years ago” and “1578 bricks,” potentially referencing historical architecture or a specific historical period of significance.
The bottom panel presents a close-up view of intricately styled hair, labeled with the numbers “25 twists,” “70 braids,” and “50 locks,” creating a sense of thoroughness in the enumeration of personal grooming practices. This meticulous detailing invites viewers to contemplate themes of identity, history, and the passage of time, aligning with the postcolonial exploration of reclaiming and reinterpreting cultural narratives.
