In Ghana, a hair salon is often just a barber or hair-braider with a chair outside and a sign on a tree or market stall. The barbers or hairdressers themselves may paint the signs, or paid sign artists may do it. They are intended both to identify the businesses and to advertise the services offered, depicting a catalog of intricate women’s hairbraiding patterns or the latest in men’s hair styles. The hairstyles depicted in barbers’ signs can often have their date determined. Inspiration is often drawn from events, styles and personalities in the USA. We find “Mike Tyson”, “Mr. Tee”, “House Party” and “Cocaine Cut” alongside old favourites like “Nelson Mandela”, “Back Bush”, “Sportin’ Waves” and “Boeing 707”.
Each sign is unique, reflecting the creativity and visual language of the artist (who is usually self-taught) and drawing inspiration from Ghanaian street life. These signs are not just advertisements; they are cultural artefacts that document the importance of hair as a means of self-expression and identity, and they showcase the creative use of art for advertising and expressing identity. They use bold, bright colours and dynamic imagery to attract attention and stand out in bustling markets. They feature expressive faces showcasing a diverse range of hairstyles, from traditional cultural styles to trendy, celebrity-inspired looks, reflecting local customs and global pop culture influences. The hairstyles depicted can date the signs, offering glimpses into fashion and cultural trends of the time.
For further reading please visit this comprehensive book you can read online. https://www.blurb.com/books/750329-the-vibrant-sign-culture-of-ghana
The painting measures 16.5 x 41.7 inches (42 x 106 cm), we mounted it into a shadowbox frame of 18.9 x 43.9 x 1.2 inches (48 x 111,5 x 3 cm), quite similar in style the other painting from Ghana we have.
