whiteness

WHITENESS

Diana

Questioning whiteness

Oil on wooden panel, fake foam, 6 x 3.5" (15,5 x 8,5 cm), 2022

In June 2020, after the worldwide Black Lives Matter protests, several companies have been criticised for skin-lightening products. L’Oréal, the cosmetics company said in a statement “The L’Oréal Group has decided to remove the words white/whitening, fair/fairness, light/lightening from all its skin evening products”, as global anti-racism protests continue. The announcement follows the decision by the Indian and Bangladeshi arms of Unilever to rename their locally marketed “Fair and Lovely” skin-lightening cream for the same reason. That’s great news, but not enough. The products remain the same. Decolonisation is still very much needed. Skin whitening soaps and creams are still in the market. Like White Secret, Bume Bime, Likas, Seoul White and Shouvy. Diana is one of a series of paintings referring to different whithening and self tanning products. It’s time to stop being a lovely sweet girl. Smash the patriarchy.

Seoul White

Instant White

Oil and alkyd on wooden panel, 3.5 x 11.5" (8,5 x 28,5 cm), 2022

White Secret

Bright result from the very first five days

Oil and alkyd on wooden panel, 4.5 x 15" (11 x 37 cm), 2022

Double White

Oil and alkyd on wooden panel, 8 x 10" (20 x 25 cm), 2022

Diana

Oil and alkyd on wooden panel, fake foam, 10 x 8" (25 x 20 cm), 2022

Likas

Oil on wooden panel, 9.5 x 6" (24 x 15 cm), 2022

Whitening Cream (diptych)

Oil on wooden panel, 9 x 8" (22 x 20 cm), 2022

Self Tanning (diptych)

Oil on wooden panel, 9 x 8" (22 x 20 cm), 2022

Celebracão! group show at Josilda da Conceição Gallery's new gallery space, Pieter Aertszstraat 70, Amsterdam

Acid soap, whitening

10x Whitening Power Snail White (GM), Zudaifu, Bumebime, Revitale (Made in England), Diana Skin Lightening, whitening brightening bleaching fairness Soap, Shouvy Kojic Acid Whitening Lightening Soap.

Oil on linen, mounted on panel, 6 x 4 inches each (15 x 10 cm each), 2020